Her name translates from Spanish as 鈥渂eloved.鈥�
鈥淲e decided to call her 鈥楢mada鈥� because she came into our home to be cherished,鈥� said Lorena Bonilla, whose transgender daughter was recently authorized to change her identity documents under a ruling by Constitutional Court.
Her case 鈥� alongside another decided in March 鈥� has opened the door for Ecuadorian adolescents seeking to modify their name and sex in official records. Adults gained that right after years of advocacy efforts culminating in a 2024 reform.
The court鈥檚 rulings were welcomed by supporters of in a region where have gained ground in . Yet they also warn of the legal and social hurdles that continue to face.
鈥淚n Ecuador there are still political, religious and social sectors that portray gender recognition for adolescents as a threat,鈥� said Cristian Gonz谩lez Cabrera, an LGBTQ+ rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. 鈥淭hat climate can translate into institutional hostility, delays and unjustified denials.鈥�
Bonilla and her daughter, 17, experienced that firsthand in 2018. Their legal battle began when Amada was 9 and school authorities refused to admit her because her legal documents did not match her gender identity.
鈥淲e went through 14 schools and none would take her in,鈥� Bonilla said. 鈥淲e then knew we needed to change her name.鈥�
A court initially granted Amada the right to modify her identity documents. But the civil registry appealed the decision and a higher court later ruled that her passport and ID card should reflect her birth name and sex.
鈥淚t was a step backward for our rights,鈥� Bonilla said.
Legal gains, rising pushback
LGBTQ+ rights in Ecuador have largely been shaped by court rulings rather than by lawmakers or government officials. A similar dynamic has unfolded in other Andean countries such as and .
鈥淭he legislative and executive branches represent the country鈥檚 broad majorities, yet LGBTQ people are often overlooked,鈥� said Christian Paula, president of the Pakta Foundation, which provides legal support in cases like Amada鈥檚. 鈥淭urning to the courts reflects a lack of openness and sensitivity within our institutions.鈥�
Among 贰肠耻补诲辞谤鈥檚 most important advances in LGBTQ+ rights, three have come through the courts. They include the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1997, a 2009 ruling that allowed an Ecuadorian transgender woman to change her name, and the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019.
Those court decisions sparked a backlash from right-wing and religious groups.
In a post on X following the Constitutional Court鈥檚 2026 rulings, Andr茅 Santos, president of one of 贰肠耻补诲辞谤鈥檚 most vocal conservative groups, said the court had overstepped its authority. He has also spoken against school protocols allowing students to use uniforms and bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
The country’s Catholic bishops conference also expressed concern over the court鈥檚 action. 鈥淎llowing adolescents to make decisions of this nature poses serious risks to their overall development,” it said.
Little political support
President has not been as outspoken against transgender causes as some other conservative leaders in Latin America, but his administration has shown little support for rights.
As a candidate, he pledged to defend the traditional family. Since taking office, violence and economic instability have overshadowed gender and diversity issues in his political agenda.
鈥淲hat worries us are his ministers,鈥� said Diane Rodr铆guez, a lawyer and president of Ecuadorian LGBTQ+ organization Silueta X.
Rodr铆guez, a trans woman, pointed to officials in the Education Ministry, including current minister Gilda Alc铆var, who has rejected the inclusion of what she calls 鈥済ender ideology鈥� in education. That climate, Rodr铆guez said, is reflected in her daily interactions.
From Guayaquil, where she raises a 4-year-old daughter with her partner, a trans man, Rodr铆guez has faced difficulties at her child鈥檚 school.
鈥淲e had trouble enrolling her because people see me and assume I鈥檓 going to turn children transgender because of how I look,鈥� Rodr铆guez said.
Throughout her career, she has provided legal support for people facing sex-based discrimination and backed a program providing hormone treatment for trans people. Her work has also focused on raising awareness about violence against her community.
Silueta X publishes an annual record of killings of LGBTQ+ people. Its first report in 2013 documented two killings and the numbers have risen every year. The 2025 publication reported 30 deaths, 21 of them trans women.
From parents to advocates
Amada told her parents that she was a girl at age 3. She asked for a princess-themed birthday party. But Bonilla and her husband 鈥� both raised Catholic 鈥� assumed she was confused and dressed her as a prince instead.
It took them a few years to understand their daughter and dismiss psychologists who said something was wrong with her or that they had done a poor parenting job.
鈥淐omments can be ruthless and people have no idea what families like ours go through,鈥� said Mauricio Caviedes, Amada鈥檚 father. 鈥淚 hope education on this issue changes so people can understand.鈥�
As they learned more about the trans community, their fight to modify Amada鈥檚 identity documents evolved into a broader cause. Bonilla and Caviedes became activists, bringing their kids with them to protests and conferences. They supported other LGBTQ+ causes such as same-sex marriage and founded an organization for families of trans children like their own.
鈥淭hat became the only way we could fight the state,鈥� Bonilla said. 鈥淲e were 25 families with transgender children of different ages, the oldest being 12.鈥�
Her family moved to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while she treasures how welcoming their new home has been for her daughter, she keeps advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Ecuador.
Amada, now a strong student who dreams of becoming a nurse, was shaped by years of watching her parents support trans friends and community members struggling to access health care without discrimination. She has never appeared publicly on camera, but the visibility of her case feels like a lifelong legacy for Bonilla.
鈥淧eople think the destiny of transgender people is to become sex workers or live in hiding,鈥� Bonilla said. 鈥淏ut we want every parent to know that one day their child can become whatever they want to be.鈥�
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