Protest held on Copacabana beach in memory of trans people murdered

In February 2016, 30-year-old Cicarelli was brutally killed at age 30 in João Pessoa with more than 20 stab wounds, and her ear was cut off amid a drug dealer turf war in the capital city of Paraíba state.

On Transgender Awareness Day, celebrated Sunday (Jan. 29), Cicarelli was among the transgender victims remembered at a demonstration on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro. A total of 144 black crosses were buried into the beach sand, one for each trans person or transvestite murdered out of prejudice throughout Brazil last year, according to a survey by non-governmental organization Rede Trans Brasil.

The figures, according to Rede Trans Brasil Chair Tathiane Araújo, place Brazil among one of the countries with the largest numbers of trans people murdered worldwide. According to her, the murders reflect the vulnerable condition to which these people are confined. Exclusion, he explained, begins at home when parents of people with gender identities that differ from their assigned sex at birth refuse to recognize their children's identity, as happens to transgender people.

“Their families close the door on them, their schools close the door on them at such a critical point of their lives as their teens, then they face difficulties finding a job, and since they haven't got the qualifications they needed, it becomes a social issue. We need to make it clear that exclusion is the main risk factor for us,” said Araújo, who also pointed out the lack of public policies that can effectively enable social inclusion.

Education

Marina Reidel, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual Rights general coordination at the National Human Rights Secretariat—the representative from the Ministry of Justice at Sunday's demonstration—admitted that Brazil continues to be an unsafe country for trans people, and noted that the government has a Dial 100 hotline to hear reports. However, according to Marina, ending violence against transgender people involves education, an issue that has faced legislative setbacks.

“Violence is a cultural issue. As a teacher, I recognize education needs to be rethought when it comes to this issue, but last year and the year before, we had a hard time talking to legislatures, and gender issues were left out of the education policies.” Marina, who is a trans woman, also believes that there is a shortage of services for trans people in the states and municipalities.

Translated by Mayra Borges