Current Version
| Region | Haiti |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Legal, but requires medical diagnosis |
| Start Date | 2022 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Changing gender or name markers on Haitian government documents was reportedly possible only after first obtaining a modified birth certificate. This process could involve hiring a lawyer, was described as slow and expensive, and required the applicant to appear in person. Advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex people reported that some civil servants refused to issue modified birth certificates or passports to transgender people, and there was little oversight to make sure officials followed the process. After receiving a modified birth certificate, applicants could update other identity documents. Some transgender people reported successfully changing their gender and names on official documents, while others said they faced resistance from government employees. Haitian identification documents did not offer nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming marker options. For intersex individuals, sex markers were assigned based on medical recommendations, often using genetic testing. |
| Sources | https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/528267_HAITI-2023-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf |
Revision History (9)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires medical diagnosis |
| Start Date | (unknown) | 2022 |
| Description | Legal gender change is illegal in Haiti. Activists have campaigned for legislation in recent years. | Changing gender or name markers on Haitian government documents was reportedly possible only after first obtaining a modified birth certificate. This process could involve hiring a lawyer, was described as slow and expensive, and required the applicant to appear in person. Advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex people reported that some civil servants refused to issue modified birth certificates or passports to transgender people, and there was little oversight to make sure officials followed the process. After receiving a modified birth certificate, applicants could update other identity documents. Some transgender people reported successfully changing their gender and names on official documents, while others said they faced resistance from government employees. Haitian identification documents did not offer nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming marker options. For intersex individuals, sex markers were assigned based on medical recommendations, often using genetic testing. |
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| Sources | https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112312 | https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/528267_HAITI-2023-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf |
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edited by PersianArchitecture. removing unneccesary ilga source
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | You cannot legally change your gender in Haiti. | Legal gender change is illegal in Haiti. Activists have campaigned for legislation in recent years. |
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| Sources | https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112312 https://database.ilga.org/haiti-lgbti | https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112312 |
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edited by UnknownMiles. Gender change in Haiti is illegal
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, no restrictions | Illegal |
| Start Date | Jan 1, 2016 | (unknown) |
| Description | Missing non binary options. | You cannot legally change your gender in Haiti. |
| Sources | https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/ | https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112312 https://database.ilga.org/haiti-lgbti |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, no restrictions |
| Description | Not Possible but required to be fully legalize under 2018 IACHR ruling. | Missing non binary options. |
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Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112312
In Haiti, there are no real laws protecting transgender people and this means we are often faced with difficult situations. For example, I am a very active trans woman and yet, legally, I am still not able to make changes in my official documents. The male gender still appears on my documents. "
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, no restrictions | Illegal |
| Description | No | Not Possible but required to be fully legalize under 2018 IACHR ruling. |
| Sources | No | https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/ |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Legal, no restrictions |
| Description | requires sterilization | No |
| Sources | transrespect.org | No |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Description | don't know | requires sterilization |
| Sources | No | transrespect.org |