“Why does the struggle of other women need to exclude our existence?”

Last Wednesday, the 30th, a video of the deputy went viral on social networks. Erika Hilton speaking at the Women’s Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. In the recording, the parliamentarian refutes the speech of the deputy Cristiane Lopes

In the recording, Cristiane stated that transsexual women are taking the space of women who “stop, who feel labor pains and cramps” in areas such as sports and in beauty contests at agricultural fairs.

In response, Erika said that parliament cannot accept speeches that will “disqualify the womanhood of trans women and transvestites is, yes, transphobia”. She also added that the biological discourse disregards violence and prejudice against trans women in Brazilian society , bringing the view that transgender women are “less women” and as a consequence “less citizens”.

“Society still sees us as less of a woman and, by seeing us as less of a woman, it also sees us as less of citizens, who do not deserve protection, who cannot be in sports, who cannot receive, as the deputy said, be consecrated in associations and at festivals. Where do we have to be? In prostitution corners, in prisons, in drug addiction? Where is our place, if it is not also here discussing an agenda of rights for all women? The struggle of transsexual and transvestite women in this country has never excluded any type of woman. Why does the struggle of other women need to exclude our existence?”, asked Erika.

“’Real’ women, in the deputy’s words, are losing space for trans women. What spaces are these? Because where we are is the question that will not be silenced. How many transgender representatives do we have in this house? How many transvestite doctors do we have in this country? How many judges, lawyers? We want dignified spaces in society, the right to citizenship”, scored.

“When parliamentarians elected by the people use this space of representation to say against the dignity of this population, what we see are transvestites who have their hearts ripped out. What we see are transsexual and transvestite women who cannot get jobs because they are not considered worthy, they are expelled from their homes, because there is a feeling in the Brazilian parliament that corroborates the culture of hate, prejudice and stigma”, finished.