A state law project in Rio de Janeiro proposes to reserve 3% of university places for trans people.| Photo: Midjourney

A bill by the state deputy of Rio de Janeiro Dani Balbi (PCdoB), filed this Wednesday (15), proposes a change in the state quota law so that 3% of vacancies in public universities in Rio de Janeiro are intended for self-declared people transgender. The PL also requests that half of this quota be allocated to black trans people. Regarding the assessment of self-declaration, the project states that “universities will be able to establish policies to combat quota fraud, as well as set up hetero-identification commissions”.

On social networks, celebrities and political figures from the left expressed support for the project. “The Brazil I want is not the world champion in the murder of trans people, but the one that will put more trans people in higher education”, said singer and state deputy for São Paulo Leci Brandão (PCdoB). Two federal deputies currently in office also supported Balbi’s initiative: Orlando Silva (PCdoB-SP) and Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP). “Trans people make up 2% of the Brazilian population. But only 0.2% of those who graduate from a university in Brazil”, said Erika, who is transgender.

The number cited by Erika is disputed. Although the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (ANTRA) publishes this data, there are studies according to which the number of transgender people is closer to 0.5% of the population. In any case, it is certain that the total of transgenders does not reach the proportion of 3% suggested for the quotas in the new bill.