12-year-old trans boy changes name and gender on certificate

Gustavo has known that he is Gustavo since he was seven years old. Now, at 12, he will see on paper what he has seen in the mirror every day for almost half his life. He has been a trans person since early childhood and from now on he will be recognized as such thanks to the work of the Public Defender’s Office of Ceará (DPCE), which guaranteed in court his right to have his birth certificate changed and in accordance with his name and gender. with which you identify.

Born in Crato, the city of Cariri in Ceará, he revealed to his family five years ago that he sees himself as a boy. As, by law, there is no impediment for minors under 18 to rectify the document, but rather parental approval and a favorable court decision are required, it was necessary to seek the judiciary – which authorized the change with the registry office after a request from the Public Defender’s Office. .

“For me, this is very important because now I will no longer have to go through many things, such as school roll calls. [quando se referem a ele pelo nome de nascimento, feminino]. My friends and family have always supported me in everything. Everyone was very happy with my achievement”, says Gustavo.

He received the new certificate last Friday (26/4), in a surprise moment prepared by the family. His mother, Amanda Alencar, remembers that her son wrote a note years ago in which he revealed, in the words of a child, that he was not feeling well because he identified as female and, therefore, wanted to change to feel better. He then started to no longer wear women’s clothes, cut his hair and assumed his identity.

She classifies it as “very important” that the boy found himself. “I have never been prejudiced against anything or anyone. His father and I have always supported him and will continue to support him. He lives well today. He no longer has anxiety attacks, he doesn’t feel sick in places due to embarrassment. I’ve been judged a lot because of this, but I’ve always looked for the best for my son,” she says.

Supervisor of the Human Rights and Collective Actions Center (NDHAC) of DPCE, defender Mariana Lobo worked on the case. “The Federal Constitution guarantees that gender identity is a fundamental right and that for it to be legitimized, self-declaration is enough. The possibility of having your documents reflect the gender with which you identify is a matter of dignity”, she argues.

The LGBT policy advisor at Crato City Hall, André Lacerda Barros Filho, participated in the case as one of the witnesses heard by the judge. “Rectification is very important, mainly to avoid embarrassment due to the use of a name that does not refer to the person’s gender identity. Participating in this moment was very significant, because you build and strengthen public policies for a population that is already so vulnerable, in addition to guaranteeing their right to exist in the world.”