An Ecuadorian man sparked controversy after legally changing his gender to ‘female’, because the legal system allegedly favors mothers in custody cases.

René Salinas Ramos, the father of two daughters, is facing legal proceedings for the custody of the girls who currently live with his biological mother. Convinced that the Ecuadorian legal system stigmatizes men while prioritizing the rights of the mothers regardless of circumstances, the man decided to legally change gender in order to even the playing field. Ramos claims that this has nothing to do with his sexuality or gender identity and that it was only a “test of his love for his daughters”.

The man recently told Ecuadorian media that he had not seen his first daughter for a year and a half and that his second daughter is the victim of physical abuse. However, after presenting his arguments to the Cantonal Board for the Protection of Rights, he was told that until the matter is resolved, the girls have to remain with their mother. So he decided to become their mother as well…

“Now I am also a mother. That’s how I consider myself. I am very sure of my sexuality. What I have sought is to give the love and protection that a mother can give her children,” René told La Voz del Tomebamba .

Last week, René Salinas Ramos went to the Civil Registry of Azuay to change the sex on his identity card, and it didn’t take long for the change to become official.

“The law is taking away our right to be parents,” Ramos told El Universo, adding that authorities view men as simple providers, while automatically placing children in the care of the mother, regardless of circumstances. By also becoming a “mom”, he hopes to raise awareness of the plight of other fathers in similar situations as his own.