In 2022, Brazil was once again the country in which the most transgender and transvestite people were murdered worldwide. There were 131 murders recorded in the year, placing the country at the top of the sad ranking for the 14th consecutive time.
The data is in the “Dossiê Murders and violence against Brazilian transvestites and transsexuals”, from the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (Antra), released this Thursday (26). The survey was delivered to the Minister of Human Rights, Sílvio Almeida, this afternoon.
Antra’s Political Articulation secretary, Bruna Benevides, points out that there is underreporting of cases. Therefore, the drop in cases compared to 2021, when 140 deaths were recorded, cannot be celebrated.
The youngest person murdered was just 13 years old. Almost 90% of the victims were between 15 and 40 years old. Of the 131 deaths registered, 130 were of trans women and transvestites and one of a trans man.
According to the survey, the profile of the victims is the same as in other years: impoverished black trans women and transvestites. Prostitution is the most frequent source of income. 79% of the victims were black; 21% white. In the last six years, since Antra became responsible for the annual survey of murders — which was previously done only by the GGB (Gay Group of Bahia) — there have been at least 912 murders of transgender people in Brazil. The annual average is 121 cases.
Of these deaths, 56% were trans sex workers – which shows a contradiction in Brazil, as it is the country that consumes the most trans pornography in the world.
According to the dossier, 47% of murders were committed with firearms; 71% took place in public spaces; 72% of the suspects did not know or had any relationship with the victims and in 65% of the cases, the murders were considered hate crimes – that is, there were refinements of cruelty in the action.
Antra also mapped cases of death by suicide. It was found that transvestites and trans women are the ones who commit suicide the most.
Minister Sílvio Almeida thanked the delivery of the study. “The fact that we have a report like this points to the possibility of thinking about how it is possible to overcome this tragedy. Having the knowledge, having the data, having the possibility of looking this problem in the face and showing the perspective of change, of transformation”, stated.
Brazil registered 131 deaths of trans people in 2022 and, thus, leads the world ranking for the 14th time in 2022, according to the dossier “Murders and violence against Brazilian transvestites and transsexuals”, the @AntraBrasil.
Check out the minister’s speech @silviolual about the document. pic.twitter.com/nm198SrfDQ
— Brasil de Fato (@brasildefato) January 27, 2023
Also present, the Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, recalled the motto of the Lula government, “Union and Reconstruction”. “It will not be possible without us, and in that I include that you are present here. ‘Diverse but not dispersed’, my sister had a shirt with exactly that part. I always remember how important our bodies, our bodies, occupy all the places . And if they don’t allow it, we’ll break in and get in anyway.”
Editing: Nicolau Soares
