A Father Took the Shocking Step of Changing His Gender to Gain Custody of His Children!

According to Saed News’ multimedia service, citing Rozieto, a man from Ecuador has legally changed his gender in an effort to improve his chances of gaining custody of his two daughters. René Salinas Ramos claims the decision was driven by Ecuador’s judicial system, which he says typically favors mothers in such cases.

The 47-year-old told reporters, “Being a father in this country feels like a punishment. I am only seen as a financial provider.” He emphasized that his gender change is not related to sexual orientation but is instead a response to Ecuador’s biased legal system. René added, “I am very certain of my sexual orientation. What I have been seeking is to give my daughters the love and support that a mother can provide.”

René is currently engaged in a custody battle with his former partner over their two daughters in Azuay province. He stated that he has not seen his eldest daughter in 18 months and decided to legally change his gender at the civil registry to increase his chances of obtaining custody.

“The law has stripped us of our parental rights. I did this out of love,” he said. Until the case is resolved, René’s daughters must remain with their mother.

René’s situation has sparked anger among LGBTQ+ activists in Ecuador, who had been campaigning for legal reforms to allow citizens to change their gender. A spokesperson for the Ecuadorian Federation of LGBTQ+ Organizations described René’s case as a private matter rather than a reflection of the law’s spirit.

Meanwhile, in the United States, last month marked a grim first: a transgender woman was executed despite suffering a brain injury in childhood caused by her stepfather’s violence. Amber McLaughlin, a 49-year-old American, became the first person executed in the U.S. in 2023.

Amber had been convicted of the murder and sexual assault of her former partner, Beverly Gunther, on November 20, 2003, in Missouri. Missouri and Indiana are the only states allowing judges to impose the death penalty without a unanimous jury verdict. McLaughlin petitioned Republican Governor Mike Parson for clemency, citing her mental health issues and traumatic childhood.

According to the letter sent to Parson, her stepfather smeared her with his feces and forced her to ingest it during childhood. Amber reportedly attempted suicide multiple times, both as a child and as an adult.

Her attorneys emphasized her traumatic upbringing and mental health in their clemency request. Prior to this case, no public record exists of a transgender inmate being executed in the United States.