IGTA Worldwide Reports

CHILE

Wednesday 15th August 2001

Transvestites 'sick of removing make-up to show ID cards'

A gay rights campaigner in Chile says the country's transvestites are sick of having to remove their make-up before showing officials their ID cards. Homosexual Liberation Movement president Rolando Jiménez wants transvestites to be allowed to use women's names on legal documents. Current rules allow transsexuals to use women's names. He's urging the government to change the rules to give transvestites the same right.

Mr Jiménez says the rules are simple for men who want to change to another male name, but not if they want a female one. His organisation has asked two sympathetic MPs to introduce a bill into the Chilean Congress to make the necessary legislative change. Authorities have also ordered police and civil servants to be "circumspect and very respectful" when they check ID cards.

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