Bolivia's lower house OKs bill legalizing change of sex, name by transexuals

Bolivia's Chamber of Deputies on Thursday approved a bill that allows transsexuals to change their sex and name.

Under the Gender Identity Law, which is pending approval by the Senate before being signed into law by President Evo Morales, transsexuals over 18 years of age can change their name, gender and image on all legal documents.

Laura Alvarez, national president of Bolivia's Trans, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual organization, said the bill will benefit some 1,500 members whose legal documents do not reflect their sex change, mainly former men whose official IDs bear the masculine name they were given at birth.

"The recognition of the right to (fair) documents goes from birth certificates to the (national) identity card, driver's license, property deeds and others," said Alvarez.

Transgender people will still need to undergo a psychological examination prior to legally changing their identity, while transsexuals will require a medical certificate that verifies their sex change.

Bolivia's Deputy Justice Minister Diego Jimenez, who was the proponent of the initiative, told Xinhua that the bill is backed by Article 14 of the Bolivian Constitution, which prohibits all forms of discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.

The bill has met resistance from the Evangelical Churches of La Paz, whose president, pastor Oscar Munoz, fears the initiative will pave the way for same-sex marriage.

In response, Jimenez said the bill clearly states it does not modify or amend civil matrimony laws. Endi