Filipa Brunelli (PT), the first transvestite councilor from Araraquara (interior of SP) elected in 2020, thought about leaving politics in the first months of her term. Getting there had been burdensome, with aggressive messages on and off the internet, before and after the campaign. But when screenshots began to arrive with the phrase "buy a coffin," the hurt was greater.
"Some people from Araraquara say 'oh horrible thing, garbage like you is not welcome here. You will create a municipal LGBT day in hell. Buy the coffin now,'" read the message from August of last year.
Today, Filipa no longer goes out alone on the city streets. Her agenda locations are only released after events. Periodically, she puts together a pile of transphobic attacks and threats that she receives to take to the police. In less than two years in office, 36 people have already been reported.
In the first chapter of a series of reports to be published during the week of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (May 17), Folha will show the routine of attacks suffered by this group.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon