Chilean president Sebastián Piñera Chilean president Sebastián Piñera signed into law a bill permitting people aged 14 or older to change their name and gender in the civil registry.
The law defines gender identity as “the personal or internal conviction of being a man or woman, in the person’s self-perception, which may or may not correspond with the sex and name verified on the birth registration certificate”.
It was first introduced in 2013 during the administration of Michelle Bachelet under the name ‘Recognising and Giving Protection to the Right of Gender Identity’.
Although some legislators filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court to declare the measure unconstitutional, this was rejected in October, the law was signed in last week.
From 18 years of age, a person will be able twice to “obtain the rectification of the name and sex” in the registry.
Minors aged between 14 and 18 will have to process the request in family court and have the approval of at least one of their parents or guardians.
Lacking that, the minor must ask a judge to intervene to proceed with the change of name and sex in the civil registry.
Once the minor makes the change, they will not be able to retract it until turning 18.
Minors under 14 were not included in the law.
