The government of Colombia has announced that trans people in the country can now change their legal name and gender marker without having surgery.
Surgery was a previous requirement in Colombia for legal gender changes, but as Justice Minister Yesud Reyes told media this week, it was an unnecessary and unfair obstacle, as not all trans people can afford, have access to or even want surgery.
Reyes told the newspaper that judges have ordered “body exams to determine if people have physically changed their sex or demanded a psychiatric opinion in order to know whether the person (who is seeking to legally change their name or gender) suffered from gender dysphoria.”
“Both practices were profoundly invasive of the right to privacy and based upon an impermissible bias,” said Reyes during the interview with El Espectador that it posted onto its website on Saturday. “The construction of sexual identity and gender is a matter that does not depend on biology.”
Reyes told El Espectador the decree would allow trans Colombians to publicly record their new gender through what he described as a “simple (bureaucratic) transaction” with a notary. They would receive documents with their new gender once they contact a registrar.”
Amazing! Congratulations, Colombia!
Bucket List: 99-Year-Old Gets College Degree Before Turning 100
She’s old enough to remember the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and most recently, the rise of the digital information age.
Adding one more historical event to her life, 99-year-old Doreetha Daniels graduated college on Friday, accomplishing her own personal goal of earning a college degree before turning 100.
“I accomplished what I wanted to do… this is my dream come true,” she said.
Daniels stole the show at the graduation ceremony at the College of the Canyons when she was presented her diploma for associate of the arts degree from College of the Canyons.
“Yeah, she’s fragile but her mind is sharp as a tack,” Robert Daniels said.
Daniels also interned at the counseling office and stole the hearts of the entire staff.
“You are so inspirational and have impacted the lives of all those who had the honor of working with you,” College counselor Liz Shaker told Daniels.
Now that she has her associate’s degree, her family is encouraging her to go for her bachelor’s. Doreetha said she’ll think about it.
(via overblush)
