When Fernando Machado and Diane Rodriguez arrived at the maternity ward, they were met with curious glances and high expectations.
This couple, however, was unlike most others. Both Fernando and Diane are transgender individuals living in Ecuador, a country where being transgender and a parent presents challenges, according to the Daily Mail.
Fernando, who is the biological mother of the child, was born female and originally named Maria. Diane, on the other hand, is the biological father and was born male.
Photo: Facebook
The couple has not undergone any gender-affirming surgeries but live in the gender identities they feel most comfortable with.
They decided that Fernando would carry their child and shared the news of the pregnancy on social media, hoping to foster greater acceptance for transgender individuals in Ecuador.
Fernando, now a mother, is aware that changing societal perceptions is a difficult task. She has previously been a victim of violence and bullying, while Diane was even kidnapped and mistreated in 2012.
Despite the many curious eyes at the hospital when their child was born, the birth went smoothly.
The couple remains a rare sight in Ecuador's public spaces, but they are breaking barriers and challenging norms.
