Santiago Pride 2018. | Photo: Movilh Chile / Flickr
Transgender people in Chile can now change their legal name and gender, without having to go through surgery.
The Chilean House of Deputies passed the Gender Identity Bill yesterday (12 September) with a vote of 95-46.
It allows anyone over the age of 14 to self-identify their gender. But people 14-18 years old will need consent from their parents or legal guardians.
President Sebastian Pinera must sign the bill into law within the next 30 days. He publicly supports the bill and is expected to do so.
Trans advocacy group Organizing Trans Diversidades tweeted yesterday: ‘Today, Chile takes a historic step forward in the inclusion of transgender identities.
‘Let’s now eradicate transphobia in schools, on the streets and in workplaces. Today it is everyone’s responsibility to protect trans youth,’ they tweeted.
¡POR FIN! CON 95 VOTOS, APROBADO EL PROYECTO DE LEY DE #IDENTIDADDEGÉNERO #LIGAHORA: hoy Chile da un paso histórico en la inclusión de identidades #trans. Ahora, a erradicar la #transfobia en escuelas, calles y trabajos: hoy es responsabilidad de #todes proteger la #NiñezTrans. pic.twitter.com/08WwJKe1AI
— Asociacion OTDChile (@OTDChile) September 12, 2018
Gay Star News also reached out to Chile’s leading LGBTI organization, Movilh.
Support for LGBTI rights skyrockets in Chile
Chileans overwhelmingly support LGBTI rights in the South American country.
A recent survey showed 65% of Chileans above the age of 18, supported marriage equality. That’s a seven point jump since February.
On trans issues, 67% of people agreed a person should be able to transition without surgery or approval for a medical board. But only once they’ve changed their gender markers on official documents such as national ID cards and passports.
More Chileans than ever also support the rights of same-sex couples to adopt children. A staggering 52% of people support same-sex adoption, which is ten points higher than in February.
Chile currently offers civil partnerships to same-sex couples. The previous president introduced a bill to legalize love but the new Chilean president recently stated legalizing same-sex marriage is not a priority.
A spokesperson for the 68-year-old politician said: ‘There is no commitment to take forward or lead a procedure regarding equal marriage.’
See also:
Will Luis Larrain be successful as Chile’s first openly-gay Congress member?
Chileans turn up in pink triangles to protest Chechnya’s gay concentration camps
Why Santiago, the vibrant Chilean capital, is the Andes’ crown jewel
