New Delhi, April 18 -- Her name translates from Spanish as "beloved."

"We decided to call her 'Amada' because she came into our home to be cherished," said Lorena Bonilla, whose transgender daughter was recently authorized to change her identity documents under a ruling by Ecuador's Constitutional Court.

Her case - alongside another decided in March - 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's rulings were welcomed by supporters of LGBTQ+ rights in a region where conservative movements have gained ground in recent months. Yet they also warn of the legal and social hurdles that ...