Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender Identity and the LGBT Movement in Brazil

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Trans Rights and Wrongs

Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 54))

Abstract

This chapter addresses the legislative, judicial and state policies aimed at trans persons, seeking to critically reflect, from an interdisciplinary approach, on the current Brazilian panorama. As is well known, the violence suffered by the trans population in Brazil is serious; constant violations of trans rights remain unsanctioned. The particularities of the Brazilian legislation are also taken up cursorily here, such as the regulation of the right to name and gender identity; the absence of the “third sex/gender” in registrations; the relationship between the rights of trans persons and of gay, lesbian and intersex persons in the country; and broader discussions about how sex/gender can be viewed as legal categories in the Brazilian context.

This chapter is based on a report submitted upon the invitation from the International Academy of Comparative Law to analyze the Brazilian conditions about legal recognition of transgender persons. Several students from the Federal University of Paraná’s Postgraduate Program in Law were engaged in this project: Andressa Regina Bissolotti dos Santos, Dhyego Câmara de Araujo, Francielle Elisabet, Nogueira Lima, Gustavo Bussmann Ferreira, Jacqueline Lopes Pereira, Lígia Ziggiotti de Oliveira and Marcelo Paulo Wacheleski, along with an undergraduate monitor Yago Paiva and members of the human rights and vulnerabilities research center, coordinated by this author.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The Brazilian Legislature is bicameral, comprising the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate which together form the National Congress.

  2. 2.

    Advocacy is defined here as a practice of political influence within the institutions and over their actors. It is the use of language (such as a rights discourse) and institutionally appropriate positions to influence the political decisions of the actors involved, achieving practical effects in terms of state protection.

  3. 3.

    Relevant authors that have led this intellectual and academic debate in Brazil include Paulo Lôbo, Maria Berenice Dias, Ana Carla Harmatiuk Matos, and Maria Celina Bodin de Moraes.

  4. 4.

    Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/cms/verNoticiaDetalhe.asp?idConteudo=342982. Accessed: 20 May 2017.

  5. 5.

    This discussion can be seen from the dissertation developed by Andressa Regina Bissolotti dos Santos, under the guidance of Ana Carla Harmatiuk Matos, addressing the trajectory of the LGBT movement in its search for rights and in relation to the law. This dissertation was defended and approved on March 30, 2017. Cf. Santos (2017).

  6. 6.

    Acompanhamento processual. RE 670422. Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/processo/verProcessoAndamento.asp?incidente=4192182. Accessed: 23 Jan. 2017.

  7. 7.

    This is what in practice has been understood as the declaration of the State on the social recognition of the gender identity of transpersons. Acompanhamento processual. RE 845779. Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/processo/verProcessoAndamento.asp?incidente=4657292. Accessed: 23 Jan. 2017.

  8. 8.

    Acompanhamento processual. ADI 4275. Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/geral/verPdfPaginado.asp?id=400211&tipo=TP&descricao=ADI%2F4275. Accessed: 4 May 2018.

  9. 9.

    Simões and Facchini (2009). Also: Facchini (2003), pp. 79–127. And further: Green (2000), pp. 271–296.

  10. 10.

    Simões and Facchini (2009).

  11. 11.

    Facchini and França (2009), pp. 54–81 and 62.

  12. 12.

    Pelúcio (2005), pp. 217–248.

  13. 13.

    Transgender Europe (2016).

  14. 14.

    As can be seen in Ventura (2010).

  15. 15.

    Informações consolidadas em Direito Homoafetivo: consolidando conquistas (Consolidated information on Homoaffectionate Law: Consolidating achievements). Available at: http://www.direitohomoafetivo.com.br/normatizacoes.php?a=7&p=3#t. Accessed: 8 Feb. 2017.

  16. 16.

    Brasil (2018). The identification bodies will have until March 1, 2019 to update their systems in order to adopt the new standards established by the decree.

  17. 17.

    BN Justiça (2015).

  18. 18.

    In this sense, Campos (1977), p. 347.

  19. 19.

    “Art. 485. The judge shall not decide on the merits when: I – he/she rejects the initial application; […]” (this author’s translation).

  20. 20.

    As an example, some excerpts from the Special Appeal 100,839-8-SP, judged by the Superior Court of Justice: “Civil law. Special resource. Transsexual undergoing sexual reassignment surgery. Change of first name and sex designation. Principle of the dignity of the human person. […] – The affirmation of the sexual identity, comprehended by the human identity, contains the realization of the dignity, in what concerns the possibility of expressing all the attributes and characteristics of the gender immanent to each person. For the transsexual, having a dignified life means to see his/her sexual identity recognized, from the psychosocial point of view, reflecting the real truth he/she experiences and that is reflected in society. […] Ultimately, affirming human dignity means for each one to manifest his/her true identity, which includes the recognition of his/her real sexual identity, observing respect for the human person as an absolute value. […]” (this author’s translation) (REsp 1008398/SP, Rel. Ministra Nancy Andrighi, Terceira Turma, julgado em 15/10/2009, DJe 18/11/2009. Available at: https://ww2.stj.jus.br/processo/revista/inteiroteor/?num_registro=200702733605&dt_publicacao=18/11/2009. Accessed: 7 Mar. 2017.

  21. 21.

    In this case, mention is made of some sections of the judgment of the Special Appeal 73,799-: “PUBLIC REGISTRATION. CHANGE OF SEX. EXAMINATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. IMPOSSIBILITY OF EXAMINATION IN THE ROUTE OF SPECIAL REMEDY. ABSENCE OF PREQUEST. SUMMARY N. 211/STJ. CIVIL REGISTRY. AMENDMENT OF PRENOM AND SEX. JUDICIAL DECISION. AVERBATION. CHARTERARY BOOK. […] The combined interpretation of arts. 55 and 58 of Law 6,015/73 grants legal protection for the operated transsexual to obtain judicial authorization for the change of his/her first name, replacing it by public and notorious nickname by which he/she is known in the environment in which he/she lives. 5. Failure to legally understand the request made in the exordial means to postpone the exercise of the right to personal identity and to subtract from the individual the prerogative to adapt the registration of sex to his/her new physical condition, thus preventing his/her integration into society. 6. In the bookkeeper’s book, it should be recorded, in the margin of the registration of the person’s name and gender, that the changes made were the result of a judicial decision. 7. Special appeal known partly and provided.” 3 (this author’s translation) (REsp 737.993/MG, Rel. Ministro João Otávio de Noronha, 4ª Turma, julgado em 10/11/2009, DJe 18/12/2009).

  22. 22.

    As an example, it is observed the judgment of the Civil Appeal 0909159-11.2012.8.26.0037 by the Court of Justice of the state of São Paulo which, in 2014, understood that the modification of the transman’s name (FTM) should be dependent on transgenitalization surgery. (Available at: https://esaj.tjsp.jus.br/cjsg/getArquivo.do?cdAcordao=7371273&cdForo=0&vlCaptcha=niFzw. Accessed: 7 Mar. 2017).

  23. 23.

    The Santa Catarina State Court of Justice authorized the change of the name of transman (FTM), even without the neofaloplasty surgery. Check the excerpt of the decision (this author’s translation): “Rectification of the name and gender in the civil registry makes it possible to exercise the acts of civil life and to live in society without embarrassment or discrimination, and guarantees the author’s right to human dignity, sexual identity, psychic integrity and sexual self-determination. The rectification of the civil registry cannot be conditioned to the transgenitalization surgery, which has a high cost and imposes risks, because what is sought is the psychic sexual identity. […]” (TJSC, Apelação Cível n. 2015.015342-4, de São José, rel. Des. Domingos Paludo, j. 05-11-2015. Available at: http://app6.tjsc.jus.br/cposg/pcpoSelecaoProcesso2Grau.jsp?cbPesquisa=NUMPROC&Pesquisar=Pesquisar&dePesquisa=20150153424. Accessed: 7 Mar. 2017).

  24. 24.

    On this basis, the Court of Justice of Paraná dismissed an appeal of a trans person. Here, an excerpt of the decision: “Given its importance as an individualizing character and element of personality, the inalterability of the name is the rule in the Brazilian legal system, which enshrines the principle of immutability of the name.” (this author’s translation), available at: https://portal.tjpr.jus.br/jurisprudencia/j/11704668/Ac%C3%B3rd%C3%A3o-1091843-7. Accessed: 13 Mar. 2017).

  25. 25.

    This advisory opinion can be fully accessed through: http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/opiniones/seriea_24_esp.pdf.

  26. 26.

    It is about the possibility of third parties being in a lawsuit that discusses the topic about which they act, have knowledge or provide information that may assist in the Court’s reasoning. About the subject: Bueno (2012).

  27. 27.

    About this actor, it is important to emphasize that professionals in the area of Psychology in Brazil are articulated for the depathologization of transsexuality. More details about events and projects: http://site.cfp.org.br/tag/transexuais/. Accessed: 14 Mar. 2017.

  28. 28.

    BBC (2018).

  29. 29.

    Bassette (2018) and Lucon (2018a).

  30. 30.

    On May 3, 2016, the then Brazilian President Dilma Roussef instituted the “Extension Program of the paternity leave for the servants ruled by Law No. 8,112/1990” (this author’s translation), extending the benefit period to 20 days.

  31. 31.

    CNJ (2015).

  32. 32.

    Boechat (2015).

  33. 33.

    Lucon (2017).

  34. 34.

    Cazarré (2015).

  35. 35.

    Prefeitura De São Paulo (2019).

  36. 36.

    For further details see the original proposal, available at: https://goo.gl/riTQZB. Accessed: 7 Apr. 2017.

  37. 37.

    Acompanhamento processual. RE 670422. Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/processo/verProcessoAndamento.asp?incidente=4192182. Accessed: 7 Apr. 2017.

  38. 38.

    Acompanhamento processual. RE 845779. Available at: http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/processo/verProcessoAndamento.asp?incidente=4657292. Accessed: 23 Jan. 2017.

  39. 39.

    “Article 10. Each party or coalition may register candidates for the Chamber of Deputies, the Legislative Chamber, the Legislative Assemblies and the Municipal Councils in a total of up to 150% (one hundred and fifty percent) of the number of seats to be filled except: […] § 3o Of the number of vacancies resulting from the rules set forth in this article, each party or coalition shall meet the minimum of 30% (thirty percent) and a maximum of 70% (seventy percent) for each sex.” (This author’s translation).

  40. 40.

    Lucon (2018b).

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil

    Ana Carla Harmatiuk Matos

Authors
  1. Ana Carla Harmatiuk Matos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Carla Harmatiuk Matos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

    Isabel C. Jaramillo

  2. Department of Law, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Laura Carlson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Matos, A.C.H. (2021). Gender Identity and the LGBT Movement in Brazil. In: Jaramillo, I.C., Carlson, L. (eds) Trans Rights and Wrongs. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 54. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68494-5_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68494-5_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-68493-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-68494-5

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation