Argentine Leader: Equality as Important as Liberty

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina's president personally delivered the nation's first identity cards on Monday to people who legally switched their genders under a law that sets a global precedent.

President Cristina Fernandez said she's proud of setting a new global standard with the gender identity law, which overwhelmingly passed congress, enabling anyone to change their gender without first having to win approval from judges or doctors.

Argentina is showing the world that equality is just as important as liberty, she said.

"What sets us apart is that we care not only about ourselves and our immediate circle, but about others as well," she said. "Today we're setting a new standard for equality and legality."

Fernandez handed out the new identity cards to a half-dozen people who were born one sex but now identify as another. She also gave new cards to several children of lesbian parents who couldn't be properly identified before.