Argentina became the first country in Latin America on Wednesday to issue identity cards specifically for non-binary individuals.
President Alberto Fernández issued a decree allowing non-binary Argentines to choose an “X” gender indicator on their national identity document, or DNI.
“The recognition of the gender identity of people who identify themselves outside of the binary gender norms is a great step forward for society as a whole because it puts an end to the mandatory imposition of ‘male’ or ‘female’ categories,” the decree of Fernández. “The decree implements the rights recognized in the law on gender identity and interprets its scope beyond binaryism.”
The Gender Rights Act, which came into force in 2012, allows Argentines, among other things, to legally change their gender without medical intervention. Fernández signed a decree last September requiring that at least 1 percent of all public sector jobs in the country be transgender people.
Marcela Romero, a Buenos Aires-based trans activist who is also a member of the board of directors of REDLACTRANS (The Latin America and Caribbean Network of Transgender People), said in a statement that the decree “repositions Argentina as a world leader in rights enhancement” . towards non-gendered people.
#Argentina @marcela__romero Regional Coordinator of RedLacTrans and President @ATTTA_Nacional attended a presidential ceremony where DNI No Binaries were delivered. “The Gender Identity Act is the legal framework for non-binary DNIs. Gender Identity Laws for the Entire Region NOW!” pic.twitter.com/OY1n1Qcr50
– RedLacTrans (@REDLACTRANS) July 21, 2021
Mariano Ruiz, another Argentine LGBTQ activist, echoed Romero.
“The state’s recognition of the identity of non-binary persons leaves no doubt about the interpretation of the Gender Identity Law,” Ruiz told Washington Blade on Wednesday.
Ruiz also noted that the public sector labor law is named after two trans activists – Diana Sacayán, who was killed in 2016, and Lohana Berlina, who died in 2012.
“The Argentine government has again and again, following the recent passage of the Diana Sacayán-Lohana Berlina Labor Quota Act, resolutely campaigned for sexual and gender diversity and paved the way for the Latin America region,” said Ruiz. “We hope this is just the beginning and that we will soon have a new law against discriminatory acts, a comprehensive law for transsexuals and a new law against HIV and viral hepatitis.”
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