A major move in the right direction in Brazil with regard to trans rights: the government has decreed that it will subsidize all gender reassignment procedures for its citizens:

The decree was published in the official bulletin and recognizes sex changes as a “right”, as was defined in a 2007 decision which the government denied a reversal, in spite of protests by conservative and religious groups.

The only requirements for the subsidized procedure is that the patient be over 21, and have undergone 2 years of psychological evaluation, which means that the first procedures will not take place until 2010.

Spain’s 20 Minutos reports that the Brazilian Health Ministry projects that without the economic barrier, the procedure might be requested by one out of every 10,000 Brazilians.

Via / 20 Minutos