Transgender employment quota approved in the Judiciary of Tucumán

The Supreme Court of Justice of Tucumán approved a quota for transgender people in the provincial judiciary. It will register interested individuals.

February 28, 2020

By Gabriela Cruz, from San Miguel de Tucumán

Photo: Presentes Archive/Ariel Gutraich

On February 27, the Supreme Court of Justice of Tucumán announced the resolution approving a quota for transgender people in the province's judiciary. The document, published on the Court's official website, is signed by President Claudia Beatriz Sbdar and Justices Daniel Oscar Posse, Daniel Leiva, and Eleonora Rodríguez Campos. It also outlines the initial steps to implement the new " differentiated democratic entry system for transgender, transsexual, and gender-diverse individuals within the judiciary ."

“It was a bucket of ice water, but like a carnival shower. A tremendous joy,” says Claudinna Roukone as she celebrates the unexpected news. The trans activist is a leading figure in LOTO (Organized Trans Freedom and Pride), the organization that spearheaded the creation of the Front for Trans Employment Quotas. In September 2018, they presented the project at a meeting with the then-President of the Supreme Court. “We thought it had been forgotten and that we would have to start all over again,” Claudinna confesses in an interview with Presentes. “That it has been approved today is a huge step; it means that many of our colleagues who are already trained, are currently training, or want to be, will do so knowing that there is a real and concrete possibility of working in these spaces ,” she emphasizes.

Among the grounds highlighted by the Supreme Court in the document are internationally recognized human rights commitments, the concept of substantive equality enshrined in the National Constitution, and the historical exclusion of the LGBTIQ+ community. A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) detailing the difficulties this group faces in accessing the labor market is also cited as supporting evidence. “It is very important to note that the arguments they have considered take into account the needs and realities we have presented in our proposal because we feel we have been heard,” says Gabriel Alabi, a lawyer and member of the Trans Employment Quota Front.

The urgent demand for a national trans and travesti employment quota law is being echoed throughout the country. Photo: March 8, 2019, Buenos Aires

Census of interested transvestite and trans people

Regarding the implementation of this new system for entering the Judiciary, the same agreement stipulates that a census of interested transgender people be conducted by May 1st . “It’s a very good sign that a deadline has been set and that those responsible for carrying out the survey have been appointed. We welcome this initiative, which accelerates the implementation of the quota, because what happens with many laws is that they aren’t regulated, and then the real possibilities don’t materialize,” Alabi points out.

“I’m very happy because I feel it’s a huge change not only for my colleagues but for all of society. Much of the discrimination and exclusion stems from the fact that there are people who have never interacted with a trans person and now they’re going to share workspaces with us,” says Claudina. But she emphasizes that the fight for trans job quotas continues in other areas and branches of government in the province .

“We are missing the Legislature, a place where we are not heard. Where they want to present projects that do not take us into account and talk about a reality they do not know, and where we have representatives like (Ricardo) Bussi who has a terrible opinion about us,” the activist points out.

Claudinna Rukonne and Gabriel Abadi agree that gender parity in the province's Supreme Court, currently composed of two female judges, and a more human rights-oriented perspective, are factors that positively influenced this decision. "Hopefully, with this job quota now in place, we can reach other justice system providers and achieve a shift in awareness among the most resistant," Abadi notes.

For inquiries and updates, please visit the Facebook page SI Cupo Laboral Trans

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