Bolivia transsexuals get new identity card

At least three Bolivian transsexuals have received their new national identity cards after a new law came into effect allowing those who have had sex change to amend their name, photo and gender on legal documents.

The new ID cards were issued on Wednesday after the Gender Identity Law recognised the gender affiliation of those who have had a sex change regardless of their sex at birth, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Pamela Geraldine Valenzuela Rengel, Luna Sharlote Humerez Aquino and Cesar Javier Moron Torrico are the new identities of the country's first transsexuals to receive their identity cards with the change in gender identity," said a media report.

Moron, a doctor said: "I'm very excited about my new legal identity. I suffered a lot of discrimination, but now I am entering a new stage."

"I'm thinking of specialising in endocrinology to help my country and my people," he added.

Humerez, 26, announced "her next step is to marry" her partner, since as a woman she has the right to marry someone of the opposite sex, said the media report.

The law does not legalise same-sex marriage.

--IANS

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