Among the protesters were parents and doctors who want the national director general of health, Luis Carlos Leal to resign. Photo: Archive
In the center of El Poblado, Medellín, a group of parents and citizens gathered to do a sit-in against circular 004 issued by the National Director of Health. This ruling will open the door to sex change in minors, an issue that has provoked strong opinions in Colombian society.
The campaigners claim that the circular is inappropriate, as they believe that young people are not entitled to make decisions about their gender identity. The protest brought together parents who want the rules to be brought back and the appointment of Luis Carlos Leal, the national director general of health, arguing that the circular not only puts children in the danger, but also threatens the freedom of parents to educate children.
One of the parents who attended the sit-in said: “We are here united in defense of our youth. This newsletter aims to give our children an ideology and to question the basic principles of the family. Parents claim that decisions about their child’s gender should be made within the family and not by health agencies.
Circular 004, according to critics, includes guidelines that allow everything from hormonal treatments to sex-affirming surgeries for minors. Campaigners argue that this goes against the professional ethics of doctors, whose choice should be against conscience. “We, as doctors, have the right to protect our children and to act according to what we consider to be ethically correct,” said a health professional who was present at the event.
The debate on gender identity and the rights of young people has been a topic of discussion on various platforms, and this march is only one part of a series of movements that are taking place in different sectors of the a country Similar demonstrations were reported in Magdalena Medio and in towns in eastern Antioquia, where parents have also raised their voices against this regulation.
The organizers of the situation have called on citizens to join this cause, showing that it is not about opposing diversity, but about protecting children. “Our aim is to guarantee that small children can grow up in a safe environment, where their rights are respected and where complex decisions are not imposed on them,” they said during ‘ complained.
The controversy surrounding the circular is in a wider context about the rights of LGBTQ+ people and the protection of young people. While some advocate the need to provide support and resources to those who want to explore their gender identity, others insist that clear boundaries must be established regarding medical intervention in it their little children.
