Argentina: Citizens have option to identify as ‘X’ on ID card, instead of male or female

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In a move welcomed by LGBTQ activists, Argentina now officially allows citizens to place an ‘X’ in their national ID document, instead of male or female, DW reports. The first South American country to make this change, Argentina is following New Zealand, Canada, and Australia in its decision.

The move to officially recognize ‘non-binary’ citizens was approved by Argentina’s center-left-wing government led by President Alberto Fernandez, DW said. Fernandez has been publicly supportive of his well-known drag queen son, and has been an advocate for gender and sexual equality.

During an official ceremony at which he delivered the first three ID documents with the ‘X’ option, Fernandez said: “The state should not care about the gender of its citizens. There are other identities than men and women and they must be respected.”

Argentina is more progressive than most South American countries, and legalized same-sex marriage in 2010, DW notes.

In 2012, the country passed the Gender Identity and Health Comprehensive Care for Trans People Act, to give full rights to transgender citizens.

In June this year, Argentina’s lawmakers decided that 1% quota of public sector jobs are to be reserved for transgender people, DW reports.

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