An act convened by the State Forum of Transvestites and Transsexuals of Rio de Janeiro claimed today (27) the visibility of the trans population. The protest took place in Cinelândia Square, in front of the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, during the week of Trans Visibility Day, celebrated on January 29.
Trans activists and human rights defenders occupied the steps of the municipal parliament with banners and posters and protested against discrimination, violence and exclusion of the trans population from spaces such as the job market and education.
A member of the forum and one of the organizers of the event, Angel Queen mentioned a series of points in which respect for the trans population is necessary, such as the right to a social name in the school and university environment.
“We are here to show that we don’t just want to survive, we want to work, dress, exist, we want to go out, be happy, seek our rights without being killed on the street corner just for being who we are. It is”.
Act for Trans and Travesti Visibility brings together people in the fight against transphobia and discrimination in front of the City Hall, in Cinelândia. – Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
Forum organizer Wescla Vasconcelos highlighted that the scenario of violence against transvestites and transsexuals remains worrying in Brazil, which, according to a survey by the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (Antra), is the country that more kills this population.
“These deaths are not fatalities, health problems or a car accident. They are persecutions caused by refinements of cruelty that lead to murder. There are many violences and violations that our transvestite and transsexual people suffer”.
The activist points out that human rights violations often take place at home, with violence and embarrassment committed by the family members themselves.
“Neither inside the house nor on the street are we safe,” she said. “We also have many demands in the field of health. Health is far behind. We have a large scenario of lack of access to public health due to discrimination by health professionals against our bodies”.
The date chosen to celebrate Transgender Visibility Day, January 29, refers to the mobilization that took place in 2004 in the Chamber of Deputies for the “Travesti and Respect” campaign, which led to an unprecedented act of transgender people in the National Congress.
*Carolina Pessôa, from EBC Radio Journalism, collaborated
