“The Lawsuit Doll”: How TikToker Zaya Perysian Took the Trump Administration to Court

It’s about time there was an influencer with actual influence. Enter Zaya Perysian: the 23-year-old trans content creator who sued Donald Trump and won. Just days after Trump signed an executive order dictating that the gender marker on all United States passports should correspond with sex assigned at birth, Perysian received a passport that incorrectly identified her with a “big ugly M,” as she said on TikTok. So, in true Elle Woods fashion, she teamed up with the ACLU and took Trump to court. The Los Angeles-based influencer, along with six other trans and non-binary plaintiffs, filed a class action lawsuit against the policy—which, they successfully argued, unconstitutionally discriminates against trans people and exposes them to harm when traveling abroad. In April, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s executive order is “likely unconstitutional” and ordered the State Department to correct Perysian’s passport. But last month, just in time for Pride, another major update came in: that ruling now applies to everyone. While the case continues to unfold, all trans people can receive passports that correspond with their correct gender identity. To celebrate herstory being made, we tapped Perysian for this week’s Search History, where she let us in on the current status of the case, her passport makeup routine, and how to serve “lawsuit doll.”

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EMMA STOUT: Rready to get started?

ZAYA PERYSIAN: Hi Emma! Yes 😁

STOUT: A/S/L?

PERYSIAN: 23/Female/Los Angeles!

STOUT: Capital F, IKTR! 

PERYSIAN: HAHAAA

STOUT: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

PERYSIAN: I drink a glass of water, take my vitamins, and feed my cats errrdayyy.

STOUT: Love. Can you send a screenshot of your last three Google searches?

STOUT: Omg have you been watching Love Island…

PERYSIAN: Yesss 😭 I’m obsessed.

STOUT: Who’s your fav girl and guy this season?

PERYSIAN: Amaya!! I love her downnn. Most of the guys are trash, but I’ll say Nic because he’s hot and when he talks all I hear is “lalalalalala”

STOUT: I’m not arguing with either of those. Also, side note, I love your PFP. It’s giving Kim K courthouse realness.

PERYSIAN: LOLLL thank you!! All thanks to Finesse ofc. The Lawsuit Dollllll.

STOUT: Barbie with a briefcase. Can you send a fit pic?

STOUT: Drop your passport makeup routine please.

PERYSIAN: Full coverage foundation, a bold lash, some glitter, and a prayer to the universe that it turns out cute 😭

STOUT: Well, the universe definitely got you right.

PERYSIAN: Thank you 😝

STOUT: Speaking of, do you know where the lawsuit is headed?

PERYSIAN: The Department of State has been ignoring the order, so now the ACLU was just granted a motion to force the Department of State to comply with the federal judge’s order allowing everyone to receive accurate passports that align with their gender identity! There’s a hearing on that next week and then there will be more updates!

STOUT: All you do is win 🎀 Who would you want to play you in a Netflix show about the case?

PERYSIAN: Ooh baby. She’s an actress, let me play myself!!! 🤣 But fr, probably that, or Yasmin Finney because she’s one of the best young trans actresses out rn🤞

STOUT: What’s the weirdest DM you’ve gotten?

PERYSIAN: Probably every DM I receive from people trying to police my identity and tell me what or who I am while I’m over here thriving and serving for the community. Because trying to dim someone else’s happiness when you don’t even know them is weirdddd.

STOUT: Are you pro-blocking people?

PERYSIAN: 100%. My block list is longggg. I like taking away people’s power to be acting crazy in my comments.

STOUT: The thing is, why wouldn’t you? Read receipts: on or off?

PERYSIAN: On for people who deserve it, off for everyone else 🤣

STOUT: So if you’re dating someone…

PERYSIAN: They have to prove themselves first.

STOUT: What’s a website everyone should know about?

PERYSIAN: Finesse. For all the cvnty divas who wanna serve pride.

STOUT: What were your pride plans?

PERYSIAN: I’ve just been a happy party girl. Dance is one of the best medicines, especially in times like these. Being surrounded by your community is everything 😝 very healing.

STOUT: What’s your pride anthem?

PERYSIAN: Any song by Lady Gaga. And “Girl of Your Dreams” by Eli.

STOUT: Cmon monsters! Send the last meme you screenshotted.

PERYSIAN: This one 😭

STOUT: RIP to that diva. What does your TikTok FYP look like?

PERYSIAN: Right now, it’s Love Island edits and politics. So a healthy mix of brainrot I would say 😍

STOUT: I saw that your roommate is Spencewuah. Be honest, who’s messier?

PERYSIAN: Me 🤣 type A versus type B for sure.

STOUT: Perfect roommate combo. Last question: what’s your password?

PERYSIAN: iHateBigotsButAtLeastimPretty123 😍