The Supreme Electoral Tribunal’s decision to eliminate sex from ID cards has been endorsed by the magistrates of Sala IV. This issue came to light following an advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Taking the sex off ID cards is meant as a way to recognize the rights of people of all sexes and sexual orientations. The constitutional court ruled by declaring a writ of amparo that was filed by lawyer Allan Arburola Valverde who argued that showing one’s biological sex on the ID card harms one’s fundamental right to identity. One’s sex is an essential part of identity and is not something that must be broadcast on an ID.
The provision to suppress the data is backed by article 93 of the Organic Law of the TSE and Civil Registry which states that the ID card will contain the necessary information to identify the bearer. It is not necessary to identify the bearer by sex. The ID cards have advanced secure techniques for personal identification.
Additionally, as of last year, people can change their name before the State and on the ID card according to self-perceived gender.
