Argentina introduces ‘X’ gender markers on IDs as president demands ‘respect’ for non-binary people

Argentina has become the first country in South America to roll out an ‘X’ gender marker on passports and national identity documents.

In a huge leap for equality in the continent, president Alberto Fernández issued a decree allowing all Argentinians to choose ‘male’, ‘female’ or ‘X’ on passports and National Documents of Identity (DNI).

“There are other identities besides that of man and woman, and they must be respected,” Fernández said at a ceremony in Buenos Aires.

The ‘X’ marker was introduced, according to the decree published in Argentina’s official gazette, or the Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, for any Argentinian who “does not feel understood under the male/female binary”, including non-binary people.

“The ideal will be when all of us are just who we are and no one cares about people’s gender,” Fernández said, adding that there are a “thousand ways to love, be loved and be happy”.

Argentina joins a growing raft of countries that have adopted more inclusive national identity systems, including Canada, New Zealand, India and soon the US.