Puerto Rico Supreme Court Recognizes “X” Gender In Major Win For Nonbinary Rights
Historic win for nonbinary rights: Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court just ruled that birth certificates must allow an “X” gender marker. A major step toward visibility and dignity for LGBTQ+ communities on the island.
In a monumental decision, Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court ruled on June 2 that birth certificates must offer an “X” gender marker, allowing nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people to be legally recognized as themselves.
Six nonbinary Puerto Ricans filed a case arguing that the state’s refusal to recognize other genders violated their rights. The court ruled in their favor, agreeing that the policy was discriminatory. Federal Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán, who issued the ruling, made it clear that the government’s long history of excluding nonbinary identities from official records was no longer acceptable.
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Pedro Julio Serrano, president of Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Federation, called it a moment that not only affirms the identities of nonbinary and trans people but finally gives the island’s constitution a chance to live up to its promise of equality. “At a time when nonbinary, gender nonconforming and trans communities are under attack, this historic decision opens the door to the full recognition of their dignity,” said Serrano. “We celebrate a milestone that allows the equality promised in the Constitution to be put in practice.”
Puerto Rico now joins 17 U.S. states and D.C. in offering a third-gender option on birth certificates. The ruling builds on a 2018 federal court decision that allowed transgender people to update their legal documents—marking a steady shift toward inclusion, even in a place often overlooked in LGBTQ+ policy conversations.
Governor Jenniffer González Colón said that she is awaiting legal guidance from the Justice Department before taking next steps on implementing the policy.
Still, for many Puerto Ricans, the message is already clear: identity is not up for debate, and neither is dignity. With this decision, nonbinary Puerto Ricans will hopefully no longer be forced to choose between being misrepresented or being invisible.
Related: Out And Proud: WorldPride DC
