A Brazilian politician has ignited a firestorm of controversy after appearing in blackface during a legislative session to protest the appointment of a transgender lawmaker to lead a women's rights commission. Fabiana Bolsonaro, a member of the São Paulo state legislative assembly who is not related to former President Jair Bolsonaro, performed the inflammatory act during a Wednesday plenary debate.
Protest Targets Transgender Lawmaker's Appointment
The protest specifically targeted Erika Hilton, who made history as the first openly transgender woman elected to Brazil's National Congress and was recently chosen to chair the Commission for the Defense of Women's Rights. During her time at the lectern, Bolsonaro deliberately applied dark foundation to her face and arms while openly asking colleagues if she had 'become black' through this cosmetic alteration.
Bolsonaro used the makeup stunt to argue that just as she doesn't become black through makeup, transgender women shouldn't be considered women when they alter their appearance to look more feminine. According to Brazilian news outlet G1, she further contended that just as she doesn't experience the struggles of black people, transgender women don't experience biological processes like childbirth, breastfeeding, or endometriosis.
Immediate Backlash and Accusations
The protest was immediately interrupted by lawmaker Monica Seixas of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), who accused Bolsonaro of both transphobia and racism before requesting an immediate end to the session. Despite the interruption, Bolsonaro was permitted to continue speaking.
Deputy Ediane Maria, the PSOL leader in São Paulo's state government, condemned the act as a 'blatant crime,' noting on social media: 'It's been 137 years since slavery ended, and we have to witness a white woman, who rarely appears in the plenary to speak in favor of women, painting herself black to attack Erika Hilton.' She confirmed that appropriate measures were being taken in response.
Legal Consequences and Political Context
Seixas has filed a police report against Bolsonaro for racial discrimination, while other lawmakers have submitted criminal complaints to federal prosecutors. Brazil maintains strong laws against racism, creating potential legal jeopardy for Bolsonaro, with precedent existing for investigating politicians over racist acts.
Currently, Federal Deputy Bia Kicis faces an open investigation for posting a 2021 social media video depicting two former politicians with digitally blackened faces. However, Kicis benefits from parliamentary immunity as a sitting politician, which has stalled proceedings against her.
Name Change and Identity Shifts
Fabiana Bolsonaro's political identity has undergone significant transformation. Ahead of the 2022 election, she changed her last name from Barroso to Bolsonaro as a declaration of support for the former president, who was later sentenced to 27 years for orchestrating a coup attempt. Simultaneously, she altered her racial identification from 'white' to 'brown.'
This change coincided with Brazil's 2021 electoral rule that increases public funding for political parties based on votes cast for candidates identifying as black or female. The rule, effective until 2030, counts such votes double when calculating party funding allocations, creating incentives for diverse candidate representation.
Bolsonaro was far from alone in adjusting her racial identification. One report revealed that nine out of every 100 candidates in the 2022 elections changed their self-declared ethnicity from their 2020 declarations, suggesting strategic responses to the new funding mechanism.
Broader Implications and Responses
The incident has sparked broader conversations about representation, identity politics, and appropriate protest methods within Brazil's political landscape. Bolsonaro has denied engaging in blackface, claiming her actions demonstrated respect for black people, though this assertion has been widely challenged by critics and colleagues alike.
As Brazil continues to navigate complex intersections of gender identity, racial politics, and legislative representation, this incident highlights ongoing tensions within the country's democratic institutions and the challenges of creating inclusive political spaces while addressing historical inequalities.
