Inter-American Court: States Must Recognize Gender Identity, Same-Sex Marriage

On January 9, 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), the judicial organ of the human rights system in the Americas, published an advisory opinion holding that Member States of the American Convention on Human Rights have an obligation to permit transgender individuals to change their name and gender on identity documents, to recognize same-sex marriage, and to ensure the economic rights of those in same-sex relationships. [IACtHR Press Release (in Spanish only)] See I/A Court H.R., Obligaciones Estatales en Relación Con el Cambio de Nombre, la Identidad de Género, Y los Derechos Derivados de un Vínculo Entre Parejas del Mismo Sexo. Advisory Opinion OC-24/17. 24 November 2017, para. 229 (in Spanish only). In 2016, Costa Rica filed a request for the advisory opinion, asking the Inter-American Court to clarify two questions arising under the American Convention. The first question was whether States are obligated to provide procedures for name, photo, and gender changes in accordance with an individual’s gender identity, and whether Costa Rica’s practices conform with this obligation. The second question was whether States are obligated to recognize the economic rights derived from a bond between same-sex persons. [IACtHR Press Release] See Obligaciones Estatales en Relación Con el Cambio de Nombre, la Identidad de Género, Y los Derechos Derivados de un Vínculo Entre Parejas del Mismo Sexo. 24 November 2017, para. 1. The Inter-American Court answered in the affirmative to Costa Rica’s questions. [IACtHR Press Release] The finding applies to all 23 States parties to the American Convention.

The opinion has received international recognition for its advancement of LGBTQ rights; the recently appointed Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, has expressed that “the protections described by the Court in this Advisory Opinion will have an extremely positive impact in addressing stigma, promoting socio-cultural inclusion and furthering legal recognition of gender identity.” [OHCHR Press Release] Although Costa Rica is one of several Latin American countries that do not currently permit same-sex marriage, officials from the Costa Rican government are willing to embrace the Court’s opinion, with Costa Rica’s Vice-President Ana Helena Chacón quoted as saying that the decision would be adopted “in its totality.” [Reuters; BBC].

Gender Identity and the American Convention

The Court concluded that State recognition of one’s gender identity is a vital component of guaranteeing transgender individuals access to the full enjoyment of their human rights. See Obligaciones Estatales en Relación Con el Cambio de Nombre, la Identidad de Género, Y los Derechos Derivados de un Vínculo Entre Parejas del Mismo Sexo. 24 November 2017, para. 103. The opinion relied on the Court’s previous jurisprudence to confirm that Article 1.1 (right to non-discrimination) of the American Convention prohibits discrimination on the basis of one’s gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, and the Court established that it defines gender identity as an internal and individual experience of gender that may not align with the sex assigned at birth. See id. at paras. 32(f), 68-78.

The Court, first, found that from the right to private life under Article 11 of the American Convention, there is a right to identity, which itself comprises several rights and includes an individual’s gender identity. See id. at paras. 85-92, 101. Further, the Court held that the right to freedom of expression under Article 13 of the American Convention protects the outward projection of identity, including gender identity. See id. at paras. 96-98. The Court held that one’s gender identity should not preclude an individual from receiving any of the rights guaranteed under the American Convention, including protection against all forms of violence, torture, and ill-treatment as well as the guarantee of the rights to health, education, employment, housing, access to social security, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. See id. at para. 101.

With respect to Costa Rica’s question concerning a State’s obligation to provide gender affirming legal procedures, the Inter-American Court found that providing procedures to change one’s name, identifying photograph, and gender on official State registration documents is an extension of the right to non-discrimination based on gender identity, a violation of which could lead to the infringement of other rights. See id. at para. 114-15. Accordingly, States, including Costa Rica, have an obligation under the American Convention to implement such procedures. See id. at para. 116. Moreover, with respect to Costa Rica’s own legislation, the Inter-American Court found that Costa Rican law was compatible with the American Convention, so long as the law is interpreted in a way that provides for an individual’s legal identity to reflect their self-perceived identity. See id. at para. 171.

American Convention’s Protections for Same-Sex Couples

On Costa Rica’s second question, the Inter-American Court reiterated that the American Convention’s protection of family life is not limited to a particular family model. See id. at para. 174. The Inter-American Court found that the familial rights under articles 11.2 (right to private and family life) and 17.1 (right to protection of the family) of the American Convention apply equally to same-sex and opposite-sex couples. See id. at para. 199. Accordingly, the Inter-American Court concluded that under Article 1.1 (right to non-discrimination) and Article 24 (right to equal protection) of the American Convention, States must administer rights and benefits of marriage equally and without discrimination on the basis of the couple being of the same or opposite sex. See id.

The Inter-American Court specifically highlighted the following marital rights and responsibilities that must be afforded to same-sex couples in equal respect to heterosexual couples: taxes, inheritance and property rights, rules of succession, authority to make medical decisions, the rights and benefits of survivors, birth and death certificates, professional ethics standards, financial restrictions on election contributions, workers’ compensation benefits, health insurance, and custody of the children. See id. at para. 197.

Notably, the Inter-American Court held that it was not sufficient for States to merely create an alternative legal institution, such as a civil union distinct from marriage, for same-sex couples. See id. at para. 224. Even if the civil union grants individuals the same rights afforded to married couples, having a separate institution with a distinct name indicates to same-sex couples that they are socially different from others in society, or in some circumstances, that society does not equally approve of same-sex relationships. See id. Accordingly, the Court concluded that creating separate institutions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples would constitute discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. See id.

With respect to Costa Rica’s question, the Inter-American Court held that States are obligated to provide same-sex couples access, without discrimination, to all existing rights and benefits in the domestic legal system provided to opposite-sex couples. See id. at para. 228. The Inter-American Court stated that States are required to take necessary measures to ensure equality, whether those measures be legislative, judicial, or administrative. See id.

Additional Information

The Inter-American Court may issue judgments on contentious cases against one of the 20 States that have accepted its contentious jurisdiction, and may issue advisory opinions when requested by an Organization of American States Member State or an organ of the OAS.

For more information about the Court’s past jurisprudence on the discharge of soldiers based on sexual orientation and the entitlement of same-sex partners to social benefits, the Inter-American system, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, or the Inter-American Court, please visit IJRC’s Online Resource Hub. For additional information on discrimination against individuals for their actual or perceived sexual orientation, see IJRC’s Thematic Research Guide on LGBTQ persons.