A transgender actor's attempt to exploit a perceived loophole in Florida's driver's license policy has resulted in the revocation of their newly issued license. James Rose, known as "Jamesissmiling" on TikTok, posted a video (now unavailable) claiming to have successfully changed their gender marker on their Florida driver's license from male to female by exploiting a procedure for replacing lost licenses. Rose asserted that using a passport, which allows for self-identification of gender, as a primary document when replacing a lost license would circumvent Florida's policy against gender changes on existing licenses.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) swiftly responded after the video was brought to their attention. In a letter to Rose, the FLHSMV stated the gender change was improperly processed and the license had been canceled. The agency also indicated it was investigating whether Rose had falsely claimed the license was lost, citing the actor's use of air quotes when mentioning the loss in the video.

DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin clarified that Florida has a rule against gender changes on driver's licenses and that the DMV should not have processed the change. He further emphasized the potential legal ramifications if Rose had indeed lied about losing the license. The FLHSMV is now auditing its procedures to identify any similar occurrences and has reiterated its policy to county tax collectors.

The incident has sparked further discussion on social media, with commentators weighing in on the state's policy and the actor's actions. The FLHSMV maintains that its policy reflects Florida law, which defines gender based on biological sex. Rose and their representatives have been contacted for comment.