Mexico: Judge approves identity change for trans people without going to trial

A court in Chiapas, Mexico, ruled that transgender men and women can change their gender identity without a trial, because the current law violated constitutional principles.

[READ ALSO: Mexico: A transgender teenager obtained a new birth certificate] This procedure is limited in scope because it will only apply to people who filed for legal protection after the civil registry denied them the change of identity without a prior court hearing. The judge's ruling establishes that the government agency is obligated to carry out simple and unobstructed procedures. The ruling also mandates compliance with standards that protect the human rights of diverse populations. "Living without documents that reflect the current reality generates many problems and fears; it's like living as an undocumented immigrant in your own country, which lends itself to human rights violations at checkpoints or police searches," said Orduña.

[READ ALSO: Mexico: Historic recommendation issued to investigate transfemicides]
LGBTI rights organizations celebrated the ruling and believe it could be a crucial tool for defending the rights of the trans population in Chiapas. “The ruling issued by the federal court is an important tool for defending the rights of the trans population, but above all, for ensuring that the State of Chiapas, through its institutions, as well as the Legislative and Judicial branches, fulfills its obligation to guarantee, respect, and protect human rights without discrimination,” said the human rights research and litigation organization AC in a statement. The State of Chiapas lacks an identity law that would allow trans women and men to change their identification documents and access education, healthcare, and employment with the name they have chosen according to their gender identity. A proposed law was presented last May but has not garnered the necessary support for discussion and approval in Congress. “The lack of recognition of gender identity impacts other human rights such as the right to work, to education, to equality and non-discrimination, and to live a life free from violence,” the organization stated in a press release published on its social media.

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