Young and trans in Chile

The conservative country may be warming to gender rights, but transgender children still have to forge their own path for recognition

A transgender girl in her bed in Santiago, Chile.
(Image credit: The Associated Press)
Kelly Gonsalves
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(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)In socially conservative Chile, life for transgender people can be an uphill battle. The Chilean government has historically been slow to pass progressive measures — i)

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)Monica Flores' 6-year-old daughter, Luna, is also transgender, but her official records list her as a boy. It was a fact the Chilean mother didn't think could be chang)

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Kelly Gonsalves
Kelly Gonsalves

Kelly Gonsalves is a sex and culture writer exploring love, lust, identity, and feminism. Her work has appeared at Bustle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and more, and she previously worked as an associate editor for The Week. She's obsessed with badass ladies doing badass things, wellness movements, and very bad rom-coms.

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