Uruguay elects first transgender senator

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The 34-year-old lawmaker, who was sworn in as a senator for the Communist party, hopes to pass an anti-discrimination law that would expand and protect the rights of transgender people.

In 2013, Suarez helped draft a same-sex marriage bill that later legalized gay marriage.

Suarez said she always received support from her parents but suffered from discrimination at school. Still, Suarez carried on and became the first transgender woman to graduate with a law degree in the 3.3 million South American country.