Dossier reports 273 deaths of LGBTI+ individuals in 2022 in Brazil
On May 11, the Observatory of Deaths and Violence against LGBTI+ in Brazil published a dossier revealing that 273 violent deaths of LGBTI+ individuals occurred in the country in 2022. Out of these deaths, 228 were classified as murders, accounting for 83.52 percent of the cases. Suicides made up 10.99 percent (30 cases), and the remaining 5.49 percent (15 cases) were due to other causes. The report defines LGBTI+ as referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, transwomen and men, transmasculine, non-binary individuals, and other sexual and gender dissidents. The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship and the National Secretariat for the Rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals will launch the dossier on Tuesday, May 16 at 4 pm in Brasília.
The Observatory of Deaths and Violence against LGBTI+ is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in January 2020 by Alexandre Bogas, executive director of Acontece - Art and Politics LGBTI+, and the Bahia Gay Group (GGB). Antra, the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals, and ABGLT, the Brazilian Association of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites, Transsexuals, and Intersexes, also participate in the organization. The Netherlands Kingdom Fund and the Brazil Human Rights Fund supported the preparation of the dossier, as they have financed a series of actions carried out by Acontece LGBTI+.
Deaths
According to an interview with Agência Brasil, Alexandre Bogas stated that the 273 deaths represent one LGBTI+ person murdered every 32 hours, or an average of two deaths every three days. The report was compiled using case records from online reports, social media, and electronic portals. The Observatory of Deaths and Violence against LGBTI+ also seek information from legal medical institutes and public security secretariats. Bogas explained that the observatory processes these more restricted data as well and includes personal reports in its investigation.
Despite the decline in the total number of hate crimes in comparison to the previous year, during which 316 deaths were recorded, Alexandre Bogas stated that Brazil continues to hold the unfortunate title of world champion in this category for 14 years, followed by Mexico with 120 deaths. In 2020, 237 murders were reported. "Brazil remains the country with the highest number of LGBT individuals killed in the world," lamented the director.
The dossier also calls attention to the lack of public policies addressing these crimes. "The dossier serves as a warning, shedding light on what has been happening in Brazil for a long time," said the report. Despite the high number of murders related to gender identity or sexual orientation, such data are still largely underreported in Brazil.
Types of violence
The 2022 report revealed the statistic of 159 transvestites and trans women murdered, alongside 97 cases of gay men being killed. The report also documented 18 suicides committed by transgender individuals. Of the victims, 91 were black and brown individuals, while 94 were white. 33.33 percent of the cases involved victims aged between 20 and 29 years old. Firearms were used in 74 of the cases, while 48 deaths were caused by stabbing. The violence against LGBTI+ individuals occurred in various settings, including public streets, homes, prisons, and workplaces.
Regarding the geographical distribution of the murders, the dossier points out Ceará as the state with the highest number of victims (34), followed by São Paulo (28) and Pernambuco (19).
Preliminary data released in the 2023 report revealed there were 80 registered murders of LGBTI+ individuals in the first four months of the year. Transvestites and trans women represented 62.50 percent of the total number of deaths, with 50 recorded cases, while gay men accounted for 32.5 percent of the cases with 26 deaths. Trans men and transmasculine people accounted for 2.5 percent of the cases with two recorded deaths, and lesbian women also accounted for 2.5 percent with two deaths. The report did not identify any cases against bisexual individuals during this period.
In Brazil, homophobia is considered a crime, just like racism. Those found guilty of committing a homophobic act can face imprisonment ranging from one to five years, depending on the severity of the offense, in addition to a fine.
Public policies
The dossier recommends a range of public policy actions to reverse this situation and promote greater equality for LGBTI+ individuals. These include implementing education in schools, establishing police protocols, and launching public campaigns that promote diversity. These policies can help increase employability, provide training for healthcare professionals, and create specialized police stations for vulnerable groups, according to the NGO.
