Michelle Suárez Bértora
Michelle Suárez Bértora (21 February 1983 – 22 April 2022) was a Uruguayan activist, lawyer, lecturer, politician, and writer. She was Uruguay's first transgender university graduate, first trans lawyer, and first transgender person elected to office. She was a Senator from 2014 until 2017. She was born in Salinas, Uruguay.
Michelle Suárez Bértora | |
---|---|
Born | 21 February 1983 Salinas, Uruguay |
Died | (aged 39) Montevideo, Uruguay |
Nationality | Uruguayan |
Alma mater | University of the Republic |
Occupation(s) | Lawyer, politician, writer |
Title | Substitute Senator |
Term | 2014–2017 (resigned) |
Political party | Frente Amplio |
She transitioned at the age of 15 with the support of her mother. Suárez went to primary and secondary school in Salinas in 2004. After six years of study, and a legal transition to allow her to graduate with her proper gender. She was the first (and only) trans-woman to become a lawyer in Uruguay.[1]
She graduated in 2010 from the University of the Republic as the first transgender person to complete university studies in the country.[2][3]
In 2014, she also became the first transgender person elected to the Uruguayan legislature.[4]
Suárez Bértora died on 22 April 2022 in Montevideo, Uruguay from a heart attack at the age of 39.[5]
References
change- ↑ "Primera abogada trans de Uruguay" (in Spanish). Montevideo, Uruguay: Portal 180. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ Vaz, Gabriela (22 August 2010). "Yo decidí no marginarme" (in Spanish). Montevideo, Uruguay: El Pais. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ "Entrevista a la doctora Michelle Suárez Bértora, primera egresada trans de la Universidad de la República". Ministerio de Desarrollo Social Unidad de Información y Comunicación (in Spanish). Montevideo, Uruguay: Government of Uruguay. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ "Michelle Suárez: "it is a sad honor being the first" trans in Parliament" (in Spanish). Montevideo, Uruguay: El Observador. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ Falleció Michelle Suárez, la primera senadora trans en la historia del Uruguay (in Spanish)