On Feb. 11, Mexican LGBTQIA+ activist Fausto Martínez became the first person to receive a non-binary gender marker on their birth certificate, Re Mezcla and Human Rights Watch reported.
This historic achievement was the result of a months-long appeal process that culminated with Martínez—originally from Celaya, Guanajuato—winning their lawsuit.
The legal journey started last September, when Martínez and a few other non-binary people approached the National Electoral Institute (INE), wishing to put "NB" (non-binary) on their official documents instead of sex. The INE denied their request, which is when Martínez requested help from Juan Pablo Delgado, the executive director of pro-LGBTQ+ organization Amicus.
As of right now, the court's decision only applies to Martínez's case, but they are hopeful the decision could be used as a precedent for future cases and eventually for everyone.
Nineteen of Mexico's 32 states have legal gender-recognition procedures allowing individuals to change their male or female gender markers, but none expressly provide for a gender-neutral option.
