A legislative session that was taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, ended in a scandal and a formal request for the dismissal of one of the legislators, Fabiana Bolsonaro, who was accused of racism and transphobia.
But what happened? The São Paulo official was involved in a controversial protest against a trans woman in the middle of the session. And he put on his own show: he painted his face and arms black and during his speech he stated that trans women «are not women». And he compared it to painting: «Just because I’m black now doesn’t mean I am,» he attacked.
The action caused a scandal within parliament itself. And a group of legislators from the Legislative Assembly presented a formal request to the Ethics Council to remove the state representative. She was formally accused of «racism and transphobia.»
The controversy took place in the last session that took place in the São Paulo legislative assembly, where in the middle of his speech Bolsonaro took out makeup and began to paint himself in front of the legislators. The protest was clearly aimed at the election of Erika Hiltona trans woman, who had been appointed as president of the Commission for the Defense of Women’s Rights, within the Chamber of Deputies.
The accused official stated in her speech that «trans women are not women,» and with the makeup she intended to demonstrate that, by painting herself black, she would not become a black person either. This action generated widespread repudiation from his colleagues.
Representative Monica Seixas interrupted the intervention and denounced her colleague for transphobia, racism and the practice of «blackface», requesting the «immediate suspension of the session.» However, Fábio Faria de Sá, president of the body, did not grant the request and allowed the legislator to finish her presentation, although he later indicated that the case would be raised to the authorities of the Chamber.
Once the parliamentary session ended, 18 signed a presentation in which they maintained that the fact that was exposed during the legislative session «violates constitutional principles and reinforces stigmas against trans people.»
But apart from the request for dismissal, there were other actions against Bolsonaro. Complaints of racial discrimination were filed with the Federal Public Ministry and also with the São Paulo Public Ministry. The trans woman highlighted in her colleague’s aggressive speech filed an action before the Electoral Justice to investigate the change in the deputy’s racial self-declaration.
With the controversy installed, Fabiana Bolsonaro denied having carried out «blackface» and wanted to justify what she had done, saying that «she sought to recognize the historical struggle of the black population.»
RN
