In 2014, Luciana Genro stood as the presidential candidate for Brazil’s Party for Socialism and Liberty. Among other points, she addressed existence of transvestites and transsexuals, which relatively few people knew anything about.
“So we thought that it’s time for us to come into politics, as it is the only way to officially declare our existence,” Thifany Felix told Sputnik.
Thifany Felix has once already sought to become deputy chair of the state of Sao Paulo. Today, she fights for the town hall of the city of Caraguatatuba, representing the left-wing Party of Socialism and Liberty (PSOL).
Thifany Felix’s political program hopes to alter the city’s education system. As for transsexuals and transvestites, the candidate wants to introduce hormone therapy.
“It is a huge responsibility. We want to become the voice of the people, who are not heard nor seen in our society. Even if we aren’t chosen, we will remain to be trailbreakers. I believe that we contribute to society and make it possible for transsexuals to hold political office,” Thifany Felix told Sputnik.
Another PSOL representative running for a Sao Paulo deputy’s seat is Luiza Coopieters, a transsexual lesbian philosopher and teacher.
“Today, society has to talk about us because of their prejudices. We position ourselves as people with rights and feelings, who also work and live an ordinary life. Transgender people are an exception. We had access to higher education and now we’re competing for parliamentary seats,” Luiza Coopieters told Sputnik.
Luiza’s program’s priority is to carry out a transsexual population census in order to improve public policy.
Luiza believes that health care professionals must be trained to work with people who have had sex changes. Transsexuals also need adequate medical care, hormone therapy and open access to surgery, she contends.
According to Luiza, Brazilian society is sexist and looks down on transvestites and transsexuals.
“We are fighting against our invisibility. We also want to change Brazil’s political practices and its practice of representation,” Luiza Coopieters told Sputnik. “On the elections board, I am recorded as a man. It is great shame for me. Because of my voice, I often hear some calling me ‘Mr.” It is an everyday struggle for me.”
