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

Kelly Gonsalves's avatar
By
Published
A transgender girl in her bed in Santiago, Chile.
(Image credit: The Associated Press)
Selenna (center) and fellow transgender friend Mathilda (right).
(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)

Luna, a transgender girl, and her dog rest on her bed in Santiago, Chile.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Luna and her mother.
(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)

Selenna (right) plays at a museum with other transgender girls.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

A transgender woman stands with younger transgender girls at a Gay Pride march in Santiago.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Selenna (right) and a friend twirl in traditional Chilean dance costumes.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Selenna (left) plays cards with her transgender friends.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Chihiro, a 10-year-old transgender boy.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Angela, a transgender girl, and her family.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Selenna (center right) and other transgender girls march at a Gay Pride parade in Santiago.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Materials from a children's workshop on gender identity in Santiago.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Selenna rocks a giraffe costume at a dance party.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Esteban Felix))

Mathilda, 6.
(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.