Chile Man Gives Birth: Will 'Matías' Encounter Legal Problems?

A transgender man from Chile is making headlines after giving birth last week.

According to The Santiago Times, the man, known in media as "Matías", is the first male in Chilean history to give birth. The man is legally male, but was born a female and was allowed to keep his female reproductive organis.

"We know that our case is a milestone, a precedent," said Matías to Gay Star News as saying. "Along the way we discovered loop holes and such, but the entire thing has been so normal. Our life hasn't changed in absolutely any respect."

There is growing concern in the LGBT circuit over the discrimination Matías will face as a transgender parent in Chile. Especially since the laws on the matter are unclear.

"The parents might encounter problems legally listing their baby as their own child since the current law is ambiguous in this respect," said Alberto Roa of Chilean groip Movlih said to The Santiago Times. "The fact that the child might not legally belong to both parents would undoubtedly affect their quality of life, because the law does not address diversity types of families."

According to Elizabeth Trovall of The Santiago Times, a male or female in Chile who wants to change their gender must hire a lawyer and appeal in court. A mere 10 percent of these requests are approved, which leaves 90 percent of transgendered individuals open to discrimination and prejudice. There have been reported cases of prejudice in job interviews, voting booths, and banks.

Matías would be the second recorded case in the world, after Thomas Beatie, a transgender man in Arizona became known worldwide as "The Pregnant Man" in 2008. Beatie ha since given birth to three children and is currently appealing the Arizona courts decision to declare his marriage, taken place in Hawaii, invalid. Read more on that here: 'Pregnant Man' Divorce: Why Thomas Beatie Cannot Get A Divorce