In a historic and unanimous decision, Brazil’s Supreme Court of Justice has granted a nonbinary person the right to receive official documents bearing a gender-neutral marker — the first case of its kind in the country.
The unnamed individual initially requested to be legally recognised as male after beginning hormone replacement therapy. However, they later regretted the decision and sought to have their documents changed to reflect a gender-neutral identity. Their case was heard by a five-judge panel in Brasília, which ruled unanimously in their favour.
Though the individual’s identity remains confidential and the case is currently sealed, the ruling marks a significant step forward for gender-diverse recognition in Brazil, a country where legal gender classification has long been restricted to binary markers.
Judge Nancy Andrighi, writing in the decision, expressed empathy for the applicant’s journey:
“This human being must be suffering greatly. To undergo surgery, take hormones, become what she thought would be good for her and then realise it was not the case.”
Legal Milestone in Latin America
According to the Associated Press, this is the first time Brazil has issued official documents with a neutral gender marker. The decision sets a precedent for future nonbinary and gender-diverse individuals seeking legal recognition outside of the traditional male/female categories.
Brazil joins a growing number of countries and regions advancing gender-neutral identification options. For instance, Vermont recently became the latest U.S. state to offer an “X” marker on driver’s licences, allowing residents to opt out of the male/female binary.
The Brazilian court’s ruling is likely to inspire further advocacy for broader gender recognition policies and could signal a new chapter in the legal rights of nonbinary individuals across Latin America.
