Report On The Human Rights Situation Of Afro-Brazilian Trans Women

While Brazil's trans models have been ripping the runways around the world since the 1980s, SRS is free courtesy of the Brazilian national health plans and with a trans beauty pageant that sends its winner to Thailand all expenses paid to Thailand to compete in Miss International Queen it seems on the surface to be a friendly haven for trans people.

But for those of us who have been attending the TDOR's over the last few years, it's been fairly obvious that my Brazilian trans sisters are catching hell.

If you are of Afro-Brazilian descent and trans, it's even worse as this latest TDOR on November 20 and perusing Eduarda Santos' Transfofa em Blog posts documenting what's happening there will sadly attest to. 

Global Rights.org recently released a report documenting what's happening to my Afro-Brazilian trans sisters, and it's not a pretty picture.  

An annual report by Grupo Gay de Bahia (Gay Group of Bahia) or GGB, a leading national organization in Brazil combating anti-TBLG violence against LGBTI Brazilians noted that there was a 21% increase in murders directed at BTLG Brazilians between 2011 and 2012.    

There was also a 5.6% increase between 2002 and 2010 in the number of homicides of Afro-Brazilians as they declined 24.8% amongst white Brazilians during the same period

The lack of Brazilian federal legislation to prevent violent acts based on sexual orientation or gender identity also has been a factor in fueling the anti-trans murders aimed at trans Afro-Brazilians.  

You may wish to read this sobering Global Rights.org 'Report On The Human Rights Situation Of Afro-Brazilian Trans Women' by clicking on the link.

Miss International Queen 2013 Is...

Since we won't have any trans contestants competing at the Miss Universe pageant (that we're aware of) taking place in Moscow on November 9, my attention for the moment shifts to Pattaya, Thailand where 25 transfeminine contestants from 17 countries gathered for the Miss International Queen Pageant

The finals were held last night (November 1 Thai time) and this year's winner is Marcela Ohio, representing Brazil.  First runner up was Shantell D'Marco of the US and second runner up was Nethnapada Kanrayanon of Thailand (big surprise).

It's not only the first time a representative from South America has claimed the title, she is the second Latina to do so after the late Erica Andrews who represented Mexico in 2006.  Her win was only the third time since the pageant's start in 2004 and the first since Erica Andrews did so that someone not from the Asia-Pacific Rim nations has taken home the Miss International Queen crown. 



And yeah, it extended the Miss International Queen title drought for African descended trans women.