Latest news with #PedroJulioSerrano
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Puerto Rico permits nonbinary gender marker on birth certificates in landmark court decision
Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has reached a decision to allow nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to update their birth certificates. The action was brought about by six non-binary individuals born in Puerto Rico who filed a lawsuit claiming that "the Commonwealth's current Birth Certificate Policy violates the right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, according to the court filing." The court's decision will now allow people who identify as nonbinary or gender-nonconforming to select "X" as their gender marker on birth certificates. Texas Lawmakers Considering Bill To Ban Gender Changes On Birth Certificates In the filing, the court explains that there would be no rational basis to deny the request. "The current Birth Certificate Policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico arbitrarily distinguishes between binary and nonbinary individuals and subjects nonbinary individuals to disfavored treatment, without any justification for doing so. In such cases, it is the duty of the federal courts to intervene, to guarantee the equal protection of all persons under the law," it states. Read On The Fox News App Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ Federation, called Friday's ruling a historic one that upholds equality, according to the Associated Press. Transgender People Sue Trump Administration Over New Passport Policy Eliminating 'X' Gender Marker The defendants named in the case opposed the request, arguing that "the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has a legitimate interest in maintaining vital records and statistics regarding its citizens." The filing argued that this argument ignores the fact that the Commonwealth already permits its citizens to amend information on their birth certificates, including modifying the gender marker. The legislators have already enacted legislation to ensure that, in the case of modifications, the original, unaltered birth certificates are preserved by the state. Puerto Rico joins at least 17 U.S. states that permit their residents to include the nonbinary or gender-neutral sex on their birth article source: Puerto Rico permits nonbinary gender marker on birth certificates in landmark court decision


Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Puerto Rico permits nonbinary gender marker on birth certificates in landmark court decision
Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has reached a decision to allow nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to update their birth certificates. The action was brought about by six non-binary individuals born in Puerto Rico who filed a lawsuit claiming that "the Commonwealth's current Birth Certificate Policy violates the right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, according to the court filing." The court's decision will now allow people who identify as nonbinary or gender-nonconforming to select "X" as their gender marker on birth certificates. In the filing, the court explains that there would be no rational basis to deny the request. "The current Birth Certificate Policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico arbitrarily distinguishes between binary and nonbinary individuals and subjects nonbinary individuals to disfavored treatment, without any justification for doing so. In such cases, it is the duty of the federal courts to intervene, to guarantee the equal protection of all persons under the law," it states. Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ Federation, called Friday's ruling a historic one that upholds equality, according to the Associated Press. The defendants named in the case opposed the request, arguing that "the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has a legitimate interest in maintaining vital records and statistics regarding its citizens." The filing argued that this argument ignores the fact that the Commonwealth already permits its citizens to amend information on their birth certificates, including modifying the gender marker. The legislators have already enacted legislation to ensure that, in the case of modifications, the original, unaltered birth certificates are preserved by the state. Puerto Rico joins at least 17 U.S. states that permit their residents to include the nonbinary or gender-neutral sex on their birth certificates.


Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Puerto Rico Supreme Court allows 'X' as a third gender choice on birth certificates
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Activists on Monday celebrated a decision by Puerto Rico's Supreme Court to allow nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to update their birth certificates. The ruling comes after a group of six nonbinary people filed a lawsuit against Puerto Rico's governor, its health secretary and other officials. The ruling means that nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people will now be able to select 'X' as their gender marker on birth certificates. Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ Federation, called Friday's ruling a historic one that upholds equality. Meanwhile, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón told reporters that she was awaiting recommendations from Puerto Rico's Justice Department regarding the ruling. The ruling comes more than seven years after a U.S. federal court ordered Puerto Rico's government to allow transgender people to change their gender on birth certificates following a lawsuit if they so wished. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at


Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Puerto Rico Supreme Court allows 'X' as a third gender choice on birth certificates
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Activists on Monday celebrated a decision by Puerto Rico's Supreme Court to allow nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to update their birth certificates. The ruling comes after a group of six nonbinary people filed a lawsuit against Puerto Rico's governor, its health secretary and other officials. The ruling means that nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people will now be able to select 'X' as their gender marker on birth certificates. Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ Federation, called Friday's ruling a historic one that upholds equality. Meanwhile, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón told reporters that she was awaiting recommendations from Puerto Rico's Justice Department regarding the ruling. The ruling comes more than seven years after a U.S. federal court ordered Puerto Rico's government to allow transgender people to change their gender on birth certificates following a lawsuit if they so wished. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at