Hundreds of Uruguayans marched to defend the transgender law

Hundreds of Uruguayans, mostly young, left Saturday in the streets of Montevideo to defend a transgender law approved by Parliament that could be repealed after a conservative initiative would have obtained enough signatures to do so.

The event was held in a festive and social environment, with concerts and other cultural activities, on the esplanade of the Intendance, headquarters of the executive power in the heart of Montevideo. Under the slogan "No to the repeal of the trans law", hundreds of young Uruguayans gathered to defend the law pbaded in October 2018 and which protects the rights of members of this group.

The initiative seeks to thwart, thanks to popular support, a measure advocated by Conservative MPs. Álvaro Dastugue and Carlos Iafigliola, of the national party, to revoke the law.

The two MPs began a campaign that collected about 70,000 signatures, nearly 15,000 more than the 55,000 needed in the South American country to hold a pre-referendum on the subject.

The event, promoted in a personal capacity by some members of the Trans Collective of Uruguay (CTU), such as Alan Aresche and Thomas Bertón, has gathered about 1,500 young people, according to the Associated Press.

In Uruguay, there are 853 trans people, according to the National census of trans people.

In the concentration, they did not deliver a political speech in an act organized by civil society.