"Tits up, tits out, full face of makeup" — that’s how Raquel Brooks, also known on stage as Roxy Brooks, arrived at the Nevada DMV to finalize her gender marker and name change. But what should have been a celebratory and affirming final step in her legal transition turned into a stark reminder of the challenges transgender individuals continue to face, even in seemingly progressive states.

Raquel’s story is not just about bureaucracy and red tape. It’s a story about resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of standing your ground. It’s also a stark illustration of how systems can be weaponized against marginalized people, and how community and legal advocacy can make all the difference.

The First Step: Seeking Legal Support

"I reached out to Garrett Pattiani about wanting to find a lawyer to help me with my name and gender marker change," Raquel said. That introduction led her to Nevada Legal Services (NLS), a nonprofit legal organization committed to helping low-income Nevadans access justice.

While NLS typically holds clinics at LGBTQ+ centers, Raquel’s first visit coincided with an off-week. Still, she was handed a pamphlet and encouraged to call. That call kicked off a months-long legal journey. Through pro bono representation, she secured a court order changing her name and gender marker. The judge signed off, the paperwork was filed, and the legal process began to move forward.

Changing her Social Security card was, as she describes, "easy breezy." But the state of North Carolina, where she was born, proved more difficult. After months of mailing documentation, proving residency, and submitting letters from medical professionals, Raquel hit an unexpected wall. Despite receiving confirmation her documents were received and in process, suddenly North Carolina claimed they had nothing on file.

"It felt like my documents were being held hostage," Raquel said. "I had sent everything by certified mail. I had receipts. I had proof. But suddenly, it was like they disappeared."

Calling in Reinforcements

At her wit's end, Raquel shared her frustrations with her clinic director, who suggested reaching out to the office of U.S. Senator Jackie Rosen. With support from the Senator's team and a referral back to NLS, Raquel found new momentum. NLS even identified a lawyer able to practice in North Carolina.

"The day after that phone call, I got a letter saying my application had been processed. It was like magic," Raquel laughed. "Suddenly, they had found the documents that had been 'lost.'"

With a corrected birth certificate finally in hand, Raquel headed to the Nevada DMV to update her license.

A DMV Visit Turns Ugly

Walking into the DMV, Raquel expected to leave with a new ID and a renewed sense of identity. Instead, she was met with a jarring experience of transphobia.

"They call you now by your first name and the last four of your phone number. So my dead name was broadcast across the waiting area," she recalled. "It was humiliating. But I told myself, 'Let’s just get through this. It’s almost done.'"

The desk clerk Raquel was assigned to immediately misgendered her.

"She greeted me with, 'Hello sir, how can I help you?' I said, 'My name is Raquel, and my pronouns are she/her.' Her response? 'Well, not yet they're not.'"

Raquel stood her ground. "I told her again, I am Raquel, and I use she/her. When she wouldn’t stop, I started misgendering her back. When she protested, I said, 'How does it feel?' That stopped her in her tracks."

Despite having all the documents Nevada Legal Services and the DMV previously told her she needed, the clerk refused to process Raquel’s license, claiming she needed her original, unamended birth certificate.

"I told her the word 'amended' means changed. That’s the point. The old one doesn’t exist anymore. But she wouldn’t listen."

Raquel then asked to speak to the highest-ranking person in the building. "Not your supervisor," she said. "Your superior. The person in charge. I’ll wait."

A Turn Toward Justice

After an hour of waiting and refusing to be dismissed, a manager arrived. The same clerk tried to misrepresent Raquel again: "HE doesn’t have the right documentation…"

But the manager interrupted her. "I'm so sorry, ma'am, for this hassle. You have more than enough documentation. You will be getting your license today."

Raquel smiled. "Thank you. Yes, I will."

Though vindicated, the clerk continued to be difficult. She incorrectly entered Raquel's hair color and weight, trying to be petty in small ways. "She said I was over 200 pounds. I told her, 'I weigh 160, thank you.' And my hair is clearly red, not blonde."

It was a final act of resistance, but Raquel stayed composed. "She was trying to make it unpleasant, but I didn’t give her that power."

A Flash of Solidarity

There was a bright spot when Raquel went to take her new ID photo. The woman behind the camera lit up.

"She was like, 'Yes girl, work! You look amazing!' It was so affirming. And then the manager circled back and thanked me again for my patience."

As she left, the original clerk offered a final comment: "By the way, I watch RuPaul too."

Raquel’s response? "Apparently not closely enough."

Power Through Performance

When asked if being a drag performer helped her in that moment, Raquel didn’t hesitate.

"Absolutely. Drag queens have presence. We have voice, posture, and command. If I were more soft-spoken or unsure of myself, it would’ve been a lot harder to stand my ground. Not everyone can do that."

That’s what worries Raquel the most. She knows not every trans person has the same level of confidence or access to legal support.

"If I didn’t have Nevada Legal Services or Senator Rosen’s office backing me, I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through it. They gave me the language, the power, the reassurance."

She emphasizes how important it is for trans people in Nevada to know about NLS and other resources.

"Their outreach isn’t as strong as it could be. A lot of people don’t know they exist. I want to change that."

The Work Ahead

Raquel’s final legal task is applying for a new passport. Although she’s cautious, she’s hopeful.

"Now that all my documents say 'Raquel' and 'female,' it should be straightforward. But we’ll see."

She hasn’t logged into the Social Security website yet to verify the changes, but she was surprised to learn she could.

"I didn’t even know I could see that online. I’ll check when we hang up."

Despite everything, Raquel is thankful for how Nevada has supported her overall.

"This is a blue state. Even though we have challenges, most of the laws here are affirming, and a lot of people in government are allies. That’s made a difference."

Representation Matters

Perhaps the most unexpectedly beautiful moment came at the very beginning of her DMV visit. The security guard at the door, Raquel recalls, was an older trans woman herself.

"She had gray hair, big boobs, probably in her late 60s. She was like, 'Welcome to the DMV!' I thought, 'Yes girl!' That gave me hope. Seeing someone like me, working for the government, out and proud — that meant a lot."

Raquel Brooks' journey through the system is one that many transgender individuals face. But her story also serves as a reminder: Know your rights, demand your dignity, and never underestimate the power of your voice—or your heels.