Since mid-2024, Chile’s legislative branch has been reviewing various regulations on the use of medications and procedures designed to enable the “gender transition” of minors.
Last month, both the country’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a rule in the national budget to prevent the financing of transgender-focused hormone and surgical treatments for minors in the government’s public health network. The measure, slated to take effect in January 2025, is being challenged in court by President Gabriel Boric and his allies.
“The Ministry of Health may not finance expenses related to the acquisition, prescription, or administration of medications for the purpose of using hormonal therapy, be it puberty blocking or cross-hormones, which are part of or are in themselves a form of treatment for gender dysphoria, whether clinically diagnosed or not, in minors,” the approved text states.
“Nor may expenses be incurred for personnel, goods, and consumer services for sex reassignment operations that are part of or are in themselves a form of treatment for gender dysphoria, whether clinically diagnosed or not, in minors,” the law adds.
Tomás Henríquez, advocacy director for Latin America at ADF International, commented that the law “sets an important precedent for the protection of children, not only in Chile but in all Latin American countries. Chile deserves to be praised for having taken an important step to say no to the dangers of gender ideology.”
Proponents of gender ideology hold that both adults and minors can change genders according to their own whims and even against their biological sex.
