Brazilian trans women are stars of UNESCO and UNAIDS photoshoot

The group of 24 trans women residing at Casa Florescer, a reception center in São Paulo, participated in the essay signed by Sean Black, an American photographer specializing in the record of the LGBTI+ community, which is part of the FRESH Project, developed by the Joint Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In addition to positive reinforcement and encouraging changes in society’s behavior, the essay launched this Wednesday (17), International Day to Combat LGBTIphobia, aims to show how inequalities, stigma and discrimination affect populations more acutely. in situations of greater vulnerability, such as transvestites and trans women.

The Report of the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (Antra) indicates that in 2021 there were 140 murders of trans people in the country, 99% of the cases had transvestites and trans women as victims. In Brazil, estimates indicate an HIV prevalence of over 30% among transvestites and transgender women, much higher than the figures for the general population, with a prevalence of around 0.4%.

And the life story of each of the women portrayed in the essay reflects the impact of inequalities and stigma, which have forced some of them to leave home against their will, to resort to sexual services to support themselves, to have great difficulty in getting stable jobs, using drugs or suffering various types of violence.

“At Casa Florescer, we seek precisely to work with the residents in a cycle of self-discovery and empowerment so that they can build a trajectory that will lead them out of the situations of vulnerability in which they found themselves”, says Beto Silva, coordinator of Casa Florescer. “And photographic art, which was an important part of the FRESH Project with UNAIDS, was a very efficient way to mobilize and engage them,” Silva said in a statement.

Read Also: 5 homemade rosemary oil recipes for hair loss and growth

12 Brazilian trans women for you to admire

How about checking out some photos from the rehearsal? Through these photographs, the beauty of trans and transvestites and their right to have their experiences respected is highlighted.