Transphobia in Brazil in the context of the pandemic: perceptions and actions of political groups that defend the trans population

The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil was marked by a set of measures to contain the virus, which had specific repercussions in different social groups, especially the most vulnerable, such as transvestites and transgender individuals. The aim of the present article was to investigate the particularities of transphobia in Brazil in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the actions of organizations and political groups in this scenario. The novelty and relevance of this study is evident by the scarcity of investigations focused on understanding the transphobic phenomenon in the context of a serious social crisis. Adopting a qualitative approach, five interviews were conducted with representatives of trans support groups on the local, regional, and national levels. The treatment of the material collected involved the content analysis technique proposed by Bardin and prioritized queer theoretical contributions. The results were organized into two major topics: (1) transphobia in everyday relationships; and (2) challenges in accessing public policies, the latter of which was subdivided: (a) education policy and the job market; (b) social assistance policy and food security; and (c) health policy and mental health. In the assessment of the groups interviewed, the pandemic intensified a series of inequalities and violence already experienced by transvestites and transgender individuals, highlighting the (in)action of the government, which itself is an agent of transphobia.

Keywords:
Minority Health; COVID-19; Transvestism; Transsexualism; Public Policy