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Some of them managed to attend the hearing, which was dominated by voices opposing the project. Among those present were Marcela Aranda, spokesperson for the "Freedom Bus" (a movement against transgender children); Pía Adriasola, Kast's wife; Francisca Ugarte, an endocrinologist; and a group of lawyers, all opposed to the project. The only voice in favor was that of the Amanda Jofré sex workers' organization, who testified about the project's importance to them.

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A long road to law that is now in danger

The Gender Identity Bill was introduced in 2013 and spent four years in the Chilean Senate. During this time, and through fourteen revisions by the Human Rights Commission—which drafted the bill now under discussion with public hearings—it lost some of its central objectives. One of these was the age at which people could change their gender identity on their official documents at the Civil Registry: the possibility for minors to do so was eliminated, leaving only those over 18 years of age with the right to do so. This occurred despite the fact that organizations advocating for the rights of transgender children were among its proponents.

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The first hearing, after the bill passed the Chamber of Deputies, was held in September. Until then, conservative groups had never appeared before Congress. Organizations defending the bill believe it is no coincidence that this occurred after Piñera's victory on Sunday and also after the government spokesperson, Paula Narváez, announced last week that the bill had been given "utmost urgency." "This is an instrument that seeks to dignify people's lives, and that is very important," declared the official in Michelle Bachelet's administration at the time. The urgency stems from the fear that the bill will fail in March, when Piñera is likely to assume the presidency. This is the belief of the organizations defending it, and that is why they will insist that it be addressed as soon as possible. But the truth is, no one knows when that might happen. This is especially true considering the four years of back-and-forth it went through in the Senate. The hearings will continue tomorrow in Valparaíso.