Today, on 29th January 2020, Brazil celebrates National Day of Trans Visibility. Even though the recognition and inclusion of the trans community at large has increased in Brazil, the same can’t be said for non-binary, trans and non-conforming gender people.
Brazil is, in fact, probably the most dangerous country in the world to be a trans and LGBTQIA+ person. In 2016, more than 800 trans people were murdered in Brazil, which makes it the country with the highest number of homicides of transgender people globally, according to Out & Equal, the nonprofit organisation dedicated to achieving global workplaces where all people are equal, belong and thrive.
“The threat against trans people is very real and very scary, but it is not new for this almost invisible portion of Brazil’s society, which encounters exclusion and violence nearly every day,” according to Pri Bertucci, CEO of Brazil’s diversity consultancy [DIVERSITY BBOX].
BRIEF HISTORY
Thankfully, Brazil’s trans community has gained significantly more visibility since 2004. It was actually on this day in 2004 that a group of transgender people went to Brazil’s capital to launch the ‘Trans People and Respect’ campaign to promote rights and respect for all people, and to highlight the stark realities of trans people in Brazil to the National Congress of Brazil. Those efforts resulted in the 29th of January being dedicated to trans visibility: Trans Day Of Visibility (TDOV).
For more information about the day and guidance from Bertucci on how to support inclusion of trans people in Brazil’s workplace click here.
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