Saturday, December 03, 2011

Argentine Gender Identity Law Overwhelmingly Approved In Chamber of Deputies

Was perusing XQsi Magazine and was overjoyed to read that our Argentinian trans brothers and sisters are one step closer to having their Gender Identity Law become a reality.

The groundbreaking Gender Identity Law would be the first of its kind in Latin America and the world that doesn't require medical, psychiatric or surgical interventions to simply change your name and gender marker on identity documents.

If passed, the Gender ID Law would simplify the procedures needed for a person to change the name and gender code on all government documentation.   Instead of going through the court system to do so, under the proposed law you would make a request through the National Register of Persons.  For trans youth under age 18 the request would have to be made through their parents or legal guardian. 

The other wonderful feature about the Gender Identity Law is that it would guarantee that Argentinian trans people be granted access to vital and gender-affirming health services, including full or partial surgical interventions and hormone replacement therapies.

It was introduced earlier this year and according to an XQsi Magazine post by Danny Olvera cleared a joint meeting of the General Legislation and Justice Committees in early November.

On the November 30 last day of the session for the Argentinian Camber of Deputies,  the Gender Identity Laws passed on a lopsided 167-17.vote with 7 abstentions.

Needless to say the local rainbow community groups and trans people residing there were ecstatic about the fantastic legislative news.

“We can’t believe that the margin with which [the bill] has been approved had been so broad, and that all political blocs had accompanied the project, ” said Marcela Romero, president of the Argentine Association of Trans* People (ATTTA) and Secretary General of the Argentine Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people (FALGBT).

The Gender Identity Law now moves on to the Argentine Senate for its approval.  If it passes there it will need Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's signature to become law.. 


H/T  XQsi Magazine



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