MEXICO: Supreme Court Debates Transsexual’s Right to Privacy

[Natasha]

MEXICO: Supreme Court Debates Transsexual's Right to Privacy

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45062
Diego Cevallos
12/10/2009

MEXICO CITY, Dec 10 (IPS) - When transsexuals or transgender persons in the Mexican capital have their birth certificates altered to reflect their change in identity, is it legal to include a notation on the new document indicating that Ms Y used to be Mr X?

That is the question raised by a Mexican transsexual through an appeal under consideration by the Supreme Court, which brings up the issue of the right of transsexuals to privacy and non-discrimination.

[Kaweah]

Five other justices, however, found that listing the change in gender identity on the birth certificate could expose the transsexual to discrimination, and thus ruled in favour of the petitioner.

But the final ruling was postponed because one of the 11 magistrates was not present at the Nov. 25 session. A spokesperson for the Supreme Court communications department told IPS that the justices would hand down the final ruling on the case next year.

I feel dismay whenever justice is determined by such a thin margin of support.