Colombia, the Surprising Global Leader in Transgender Rights
This week, Colombia moved to begin allowing its transgender citizens to legally change how their name and gender are registered on government identification cards—without having to endure intrusive physical and psychological examinations to prove their sex.
This puts Colombia at the forefront of an emerging global human rights issue: At least 19 European countries—including France, Belgium, and Italy—require transgender people to undergo genital removal surgery and sterilization before they can legally change their gender. Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, and Denmark have passed measures to allow transgender people to legally adjust government identification cards to reflect their gender identity without proof of surgery. In 2010, the U.S. State Department made it easier for transgender people to receive a passport reflecting their correct gender.
