SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A recent landmark decision by Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court has brought joy to activists as it approves the modification of birth certificates for nonbinary and gender-nonconforming individuals. The court’s ruling arises from a legal battle initiated by a group of six nonbinary persons against the governor of Puerto Rico, its health secretary, and other governmental officials.
With this decision, individuals who identify beyond the traditional gender binary in Puerto Rico are now permitted to select ‘X’ as their gender marker on birth certificates, affirming their gender identity in official documents.
Pedro Julio Serrano, who serves as the president of Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Federation, hailed the court’s decision made on Friday as a momentous step towards upholding equality for all individuals, regardless of gender identity.
As the ruling continues to make waves, Governor Jenniffer González Colón mentioned to the press that she is currently awaiting guidance from Puerto Rico’s Justice Department regarding the implementation and ramifications of the court’s decision.
This decision arrives more than seven years following a mandate by a U.S. federal court requiring Puerto Rico to permit transgender individuals to amend their gender on birth certificates after initiating a similar legal challenge.