By Paula Bistagnino Photo: Ariel Gutraich Luana was the first transgender girl in Argentina to obtain her national identity document (DNI) after the Gender Identity Law was passed on May 9, 2012. This pioneering legislation is almost unique in the world because it recognizes the right to legal gender change for minors. But it wasn't easy: it took her mother, Gabriela Mansilla, almost a year to obtain it. Since then, learning as she went, Gabriela has become a leading figure in the fight for the rights of transgender children in Argentina. She founded the organization Childhoods Free of Violence and Discrimination to help other families and wrote "Yo nena, yo princesa" (I'm a girl, I'm a princess), where she recounts Luana's story from when she first said that phrase at 18 months old until she obtained her DNI. Now she publishes “Free Butterflies” – also published by the National University of General Sarmiento – in which she tells how her daughter's life continues and, through her, the lives of all trans children in Argentina.

"Luana's upbringing isn't just mine."

“Free Butterflies “She talks about Luana, about how her life continued after she received her ID, about how the legal gender change is just a formality in our children's lives, about all the social and daily struggles it entails: the fight against the binary and the stereotype is constant, day after day, in every space,” Mansilla tells Presentes, a few hours before the presentation at the Buenos Aires Book Fair. The anecdotes alternate with texts by Susy Shock; Marlene Wayar; the psychologists from Infancias Libres (Free Childhoods); the school principal; Luana's teacher; and her skating instructor. “Luana's upbringing isn't just mine. All those people who were and are a fundamental part of my daughter being able to be a free spirit are also involved,” she adds. -What has changed 6 years after the Law was passed and almost 5 years since Luana received her document with her self-perceived identity? –A lot of things happened. Some good, some not so good. It's hard work, step by step, slow. The law helps us to demand proper treatment and respect for our children, but The law did not change societyTherefore, those rights that he proposes are not granted if one does not go after them to enforce them. -Is it ignorance or resistance? Much of it is due to ignorance. It's a lack of information, and also fear and prejudice. We mothers are the ones who bring the law to the schools: there are a lot of teachers and principals who have no idea that the Gender Identity Law exists in Argentina. They have absolutely no idea. And you realize this because when they find out, most of the time they're pleasantly surprised and become interested: it even helps them to know that their students have these rights; they know what to do. -Is this happening all over the country? This is more pronounced in the provinces, but it happens everywhere; in Buenos Aires too. There isn't a single case of a family who says that when they went to the school to talk about their child, they were told: “Yes, go ahead, come in, we understand this and we'll support you and your child.” Forget it. That doesn't exist. What's more, In many schools they still require a psychological report to name the children as they wish to be named. -Last year there were at least two cases in the province of Buenos Aires of children who initiated the legal name change process and, after months, it was not granted. Is there a setback? -Yeah, In the province of Buenos Aires there is a huge setbackBecause these are cases that were shelved. We had to launch a campaign with Abosex to get it granted to a little girl, and now we're working with a little boy who's been waiting since October. And the girl was even forbidden from going on a school trip because she didn't have an ID. Do you know how many children weren't going to be called by their chosen name because they didn't have an ID? And that's a lack of information, because...It is very clear in Article 12 of the Law*: it is not necessary to have the ID card for the right to be fulfilled. We are still working to establish the rights of transgender children. Institutions are still turning their backs on us. -You said that the ID card is just a formality and that nothing ends there. What are the battles that need to be fought? -A cultural battle, which is much more important and much more difficult: acceptance, dialogue with peers, combating bullying, denigration, the way others look at you. Facing all of that is a constant battle. “Free Butterflies” is about that: we can’t just get our ID and be done with it. Not only is it not enough, it’s practically nothing for a trans child when society is still so far behind. -What is the most urgent thing today? -Education. We urgently need an order and directive from the Ministry of Education to modify Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE): our children's bodies are not in CSE, they're not in school, they're not in books, they're not in biology class. My daughter's body is nowhere in the education system. Luana's body is nowhere. According to science, Luana has a male body. So, is this what they're going to tell my daughter? Education is still about girl-vulva / boy-penis. It's urgent to enable, integrate, acknowledge, name, teach, and explain dissident bodies. Trans children aren't even mentioned in schools. We have children who attend public schools, like my own, but also private and religious schools. We need all schools to embrace diversity, to stop trying to hide our children: it's not enough for a girl's ID to say she's a girl and for her to wear a skirt. That's what they mostly accept: that she has a girl's name and looks like a girl. That's it, it's all about the rules. -Does that "rule" also lead to hormone therapy and surgery as almost a condition of the transition? —Of course, that's also what this book is about: freeing our children from the social pressure that their bodies have to conform to binary norms. If their ID says "female," then they have to "look" like a woman: of course, that "look" is based on binary and heteronormative stereotypes. Nobody accepts a girl with a penis. Nobody accepts a boy without a beard and with breasts either. That burden is still very heavy. We are reproducing prejudices and stereotypes, even with the law. We continue to condemn diverse bodies. Until we can talk about this inside the school, we're not going anywhere. It's respected because it's the law and you can be reported, but there's no genuine respect. When, under the guise of "protecting" them, I send a child to the teachers' or disabled person's bathroom, they're not protecting them. It's a lie. They're discriminating against them. They have the problem: they can't get their genitals out of their heads. -How many families are there today in Free Childhoods? –Over the years, I've supported more than 80 families on my own, and right now we're 40, with children ranging from 4 to 14 years old. You know what hurts me the most? That many families who come to us with doubts, when I explain what they need to do, never come back. They come expecting us to tell them their children aren't trans. And when we tell them yes, that they are trans children, they don't return. That, for me, is the most painful thing. That, and also the lack of protection for the children: when I see them being shown and exposed, that was never done at Infancias Libres, and I believe they aren't protecting the children, that they won't have an easier life just because they're on television. On the contrary. -Are parents the first line of resistance? -Without a doubt: the first battle is with oneself, because mothers and fathers are very resistant at first: they hear the story, they know what their children are going through, but then they can't or don't want to continue. They come, they stay for a while, but the father doesn't want to be involved, or the day they see him wearing a skirt, they leave; and then there are fathers and mothers who immediately pour all their love into supporting their children. There are single mothers who face this struggle even with many difficulties and take care of their children. -What do a mother, a father, a guardian, a grandparent have to do...? -We have to listen to the child. We have to look them in the eyes and say: What do you need? What are you feeling? What's happening to you? Don't you like your pants? Do you want a skirt? What would you like me to call you? What would you like to play? Where would you like to stand in line? Tell me who you are. Nobody can define you better than you can. -Are you optimistic about the new generation? "I'm not optimistic. Because children born with gender dysphoria are raised by parents who say, 'Look at the transvestite, they come with a doorknob, they come with a surprise.' I say it like that because, even though it sounds crazy, that's what they say. And it also happens a lot that when they're very little, nothing happens, but when they grow up... Everything's fine until the cisgender boy (whose biology corresponds to his gender identity) likes the trans girl. That's when the father explodes. So, as long as there's no place for them in schools, it's a problem." The law exists, but society needs to change: there is no advertising, school textbooks deny trans bodies, as do toys, films, and cartoons.. There is no diversity. They can tolerate identity, but they can't stand the diversity of bodies. The bodies of our children continue to threaten the Church, the family. To them, my daughter is an abomination. -How does Luana cope with that heteronormative world of programs and toys? -She's consumed by them because she has to look good in front of her classmates. All the boys want to fit in, and she already knows she doesn't fit in because of her body, so she wants to belong. I haven't managed to get her to resist it yet. She can't escape it yet. And when she's with me, she says, "See how silly they are? See how they put 'for boys' and 'for girls'?" Luckily, now in 5th grade, she has a teacher who reads to Susy Shock and writes "Welcome." He uses "children" in the announcements, and she's thrilled.(ARTICLE 12. — Dignified Treatment. The gender identity adopted by individuals, especially children and adolescents, who use a first name different from the one recorded on their national identity document, must be respected. At their sole request, the adopted first name must be used for summonses, registration, files, calls, and any other procedure or service, in both the public and private sectors. When the nature of the procedure makes it necessary to record the data contained in the national identity document, a system will be used that combines the initials of the first name, the full surname, day and year of birth, and document number, and the first name chosen for reasons of gender identity will be added at the request of the interested party. In those circumstances where the person must be named in public, only the chosen first name that respects the adopted gender identity must be used.)  ]]>