Philippines rejects trans records case

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • October 24, 2007 - 17:23

The court said there is no law regarding people who have undergone gender reassignment.

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The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled that woman may not change her civil registry records.

Born Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio, the woman underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2001 and wanted her records to reflect her transition.

While recognising that trans people do not "fit neatly into the commonly recognised parameters of social convention," the court said there is no law regarding people who have undergone gender reassignment.

"While the petitioner may have succeeded in altering his body and appearance through the intervention of modern surgery, no law authorises the change of entry as to sex in the civil registry for that reason," the judgement read, according to AFP.

She had hoped to change her name and records in order to marry her partner.

Last year Amnesty International launched a global campaign calling upon the Philippine government to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Amnesty members from around the world joined forces with the lesbian and gay legislative advocacy network Philippines (LAGABLAB-Pilipinas).

The legislation being considered by the Philippine congress would see an amendment to the Philippines constitution prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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