Afro-Brazilian Trans Activist Wins Historic Election Amid Contentious Presidential Race

The 36-year-old activist made history this week as the first transgender woman elected as a state representative in Brazil, as Remezcla reports. Malunguinho, who campaigned as a member of the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), won a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Sao Paulo. She will now represent the South American country’s largest city, which counts 13 million residents.

projectqueer

Malunguinho earned more than 55,000 votes in a race that represented an extremely pivotal moment for Brazil’s trans community. More than 50 transgender candidates — including 35-year-old television producer Barbara Aires and 44-year-old photographer Cristian Lins — threw their hat in the ring in 2018. That’s a massive 900 percent increase from 2014, when only five trans people ran for office.

None of those candidates were elected.

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Source: projectqueer