Fabricio Chicas is all too familiar with the routine. Whenever he presents his ID, the person on the other side of the counter eyes him suspiciously and questions why he possesses a document identifying him as female. Whether it’s a bank, hospital, or human resources office, the 49-year-old Salvadoran transgender man gives the same answer: he has been unable to change his name and gender on his ID. Unfortunately, Chicas’ situation is not uncommon in El Salvador, a country where Catholicism and evangelicalism wield significant influence, abortion is illegal, and same-sex marriage is unlikely to be legalized anytime soon. In 2022, the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the inability to change one’s name due to gender identity constitutes discriminatory treatment and ordered the National Assembly to simplify the process through reform. However, the deadline has passed, and lawmakers have failed to comply, which Cristian González Cabrera, a Human Rights Watch researcher on LGBTQ rights, views as part of a larger pattern of undermining the rule of law and judicial autonomy.
According to Cabrera, democratic institutions have been under attack by President Nayib Bukele and his supporters since his party won a supermajority in the Assembly after the 2021 elections.
In recent years, two transgender individuals won legal cases for name and gender changes. However, municipal employees refused to comply with the court ruling and appealed to the Supreme Court, leaving the plaintiffs uncertain about the outcome.
Chicas experienced a childhood where his mother initially accepted his masculine identity, but later forced him to wear feminine clothing out of fear for his safety. This caused him to feel depressed and contemplate suicide. At 15, a transgender man advised him to begin his physical transformation, which resulted in hospitalization due to complications. Despite his mother’s objections, Chicas committed to leaving and pursuing his own path.
The lack of familial support is often the primary challenge for individuals transitioning, according to Mónica Linares, a transgender activist at ASPIDH Arcoiris Trans. Linares, who began her transition at the age of 14 and now advocates for LGBTQ rights in El Salvador, highlights the struggles faced by transgender citizens, including being denied basic services and employment due to inconsistencies on official documents. Discrimination against transgender individuals extends to religion, with some churches, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, rejecting sexual diversity. Despite the support of individuals like Chicas, who creates a chosen family for those who accept and care for him, trans individuals in El Salvador still experience violence and discrimination. While other Latin American countries have laws in place to protect LGBTQ rights, El Salvador has experienced setbacks under President Bukele’s administration, including the dissolution of the Ministry for Social Inclusion and restructuring of educational institutions addressing sexual orientation. Despite advocacy efforts for change, socially conservative views continue to resist legislative alterations.
Despite ongoing efforts, transgender individuals in El Salvador continue to face significant challenges in achieving acceptance and equal rights. One of the most pressing issues is the pervasive level of impunity surrounding violence against trans women, with many state officials operating without accountability.