Sonora Transgender Community, Allies Push For Gender Identity Reform

By Murphy Woodhouse
Published: Friday, September 11, 2020 - 5:50am
Updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - 1:47pm

Sonoran Gender Identity Reform
Sonora Trans
Fernanda Velarde speaks during a September 2020 event intended to pressure Sonora state representatives to approve a reform measure that would allow transgender Sonorans to easily change their names and sex on state documents.

Transgender Sonorans and their allies are pushing for a reform in the state that would allow residents to easily change their names and genders on official documents.

On Thursday, supporters of the measure gathered in front of the Sonoran Congress to put pressure on legislators. Months after it was heard in committee, it has yet to be heard by the full body.

If approved, it would create a simple process for petitioners to change the sex and name on state civil registry documents.

“We live with a name and a gender, but our legal document that the state provides, it says something else,” said Fernanda Velarde, president and founder of Sonora Trans, which is pushing for the reform. “It seems like a lie.”

Velarde thinks it’s likely the reform will be considered by the full body before year’s end, but she puts the odds of it passing at “50-50.”

Fronteras Sonora Gender