Government denies fake news about unisex bathrooms

Fake news

Deputies spread false information

The federal government denied fake news about an alleged obligation to adopt unisex bathrooms in schools. The fake news began to circulate after the publication, on Friday (22), of a resolution dealing with parameters for the access and permanence of transvestite people, transgender women and men, as well as transmasculine and non-binary people, in systems and institutions education.

The resolution was authored by the National Council for the Rights of LGBTQIA+ People.

The text says that educational institutions – at any level – must guarantee, among other points, the use of the social name on enrollment forms, attendance records, evaluations and similar information systems used by schools.

Furthermore, the resolution establishes that the use of bathrooms, changing rooms and other spaces segregated by gender, if any, must be guaranteed, in accordance with the gender identity and/or expression of each student.

After publication, deputies Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) and Filipe Barros (PL-PR) began to spread false information about it. In a video published on a social network, Ferreira says that the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) had established unisex bathrooms in all schools in the country. Barros stated that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had established unisex bathrooms in Brazil.

“What the resolution points to is the guarantee of use of bathrooms, changing rooms and other spaces where there is use according to gender, in accordance with the identity and/or gender expression of each student. The document also deals with measures that minimize the risk of violence and discrimination, including the adoption of bathrooms for individual use, regardless of gender, in addition to the existing male and female ones in public spaces”,

said the MDHC, through a note.

At another point, the resolution states that, whenever possible, bathrooms for individual use should be installed, regardless of gender, “in addition to the existing male and female spaces in public spaces”; carrying out awareness campaigns about the right to gender self-determination of trans people and its guarantees; and the posting of posters informing that these are safe and inclusive spaces for all people.

“Unlike what is being propagated by pieces of misinformation, the document does not have a legal or mandatory nature and does not mention unisex bathrooms. There is also no decree, order issued by a higher authority that determines compliance with a resolution on the subject. The resolution only formulates guidelines regarding the institutional recognition of gender identity and its operationalization”,

said the ministry.

AGU is activated

The Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Silvio Almeida, said that he contacted the Federal Attorney General’s Office asking for an investigation.

“Whoever uses lies as a means of doing politics, encourages hatred against minorities and does not behave in a republican manner must be treated with the rigors of the law. This is how it will be”, said the minister on a social network.

Read more:

TSE decides to keep Bolsonaro ineligible

Bolsonaro spent R$9.7 billion on social benefits during the election period, says CGU

PGR makes agreements with 8/1 defendants, sets fines of up to R$20,000 and awaits approval from Moraes