GH’s Cassandra James Achieves a Major Milestone!

Getting a new passport recently was a much bigger deal for GENERAL HOSPITAL star Cassandra James (Terry) than simply renewing the legal document. For the first time, the out trans actress was able to get a passport with a gender marker that aligns with her female identity!

“Major milestone as a trans person!” the GH star exclaimed on Instagram, showing off the photo on her new travel document and the “Sex” category clearly marked with an F for female. “I finally got a new, gender-affirmed passport!”

The actress went on to acknowledge that the forms and paperwork associated with bureaucracy are challenging for everyone — but noted that the red tape can often be especially “demoralizing and difficult” for many trans people. “Although I had support and managed to process my name and gender marker change through a court order here in Los Angeles in 2017, it took me seven years to get to this moment, to finally get an internationally recognized travel document that aligns with me authentically,” she explained.

In June 2021, the U.S. Department of State stopped requiring medical certification for a person to change the gender marker on their passport — nor does the passport need to match the gender listed on one’s supporting documentation, like a birth certificate. As of 2022, a person can select M, F, or X as the gender marker when applying for or renewing a passport.

“This is so major for trans people, who are constantly evaluating which environments and places are safe for us, who have so many extra obstacles to navigate just to exist and move freely,” added James, who was born in California and raised in Vancouver. “This document is so much more than an object I’ll use to finally come home to Canada. It represents vulnerability, resilience, perseverance through endless hold times and dated websites, application rejections, and money orders.”

James — who has played the groundbreaking role of Dr. Terry Randolph, an openly trans character, on GH since June 2018 — is an active advocate for the trans community, and views her new passport as a huge step for trans rights. “So much of the violence we are navigating as a community has to do with limiting our access to resources and public spaces,” she revealed. “This passport is a beacon and every time I see a trans person post their new passport online, I know what a win this is for that person, for us as a family.”

We think that James looks absolutely lovely in her photo and are so glad that she’s properly recognized in her new passport!

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