On April 16, 2025, Brazilian federal deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) publicly denounced what she described as a case of state transfobia by the United States government under President Donald Trump. The incident arose when Hilton received an entry visa to the U.S. that incorrectly identified her gender as male, a stark contradiction to her official Brazilian documents that recognize her as a woman.
Hilton, one of the first transgender women to hold a seat in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, was invited to attend the Brazil Conference at Harvard and MIT, taking place this week in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The trip was officially sanctioned by the Brazilian government, which typically streamlines visa applications for official missions through direct communication with the U.S. embassy. However, Hilton's team encountered unusual obstacles during this process, attributed to new guidelines implemented by the Trump administration.
Initially, her representatives were advised to apply for a standard tourist visa, a recommendation that was later corrected. Despite this, the visa ultimately issued on April 3, 2025, bore the male designation, which Hilton asserted was never communicated or consented to by her team.
“It’s absurd that the hate Donald Trump harbors and promotes against transgender individuals has impacted a Brazilian parliamentarian on an official mission,” Hilton stated, describing the situation as an act of institutional violence and a clear violation of her official Brazilian documents. She emphasized that this incident goes beyond personal affront and escalates into a diplomatic matter, calling it a “perverse and cruel” manifestation of state-sponsored transfobia.
In light of the circumstances, Hilton chose not to use the erroneous document and subsequently canceled her trip to the United States. This decision reflects a broader context of increasing repression against the LGBTQIA+ community in the U.S. under Trump’s administration, which has enacted various restrictions on gender transition policies and banned terms like “gay,” “lesbian,” “transgender,” and “LGBTQ” from official government websites.
Despite the gravity of the situation, there has been no official response from either the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) or the U.S. embassy in Brazil regarding Hilton's case.
Hilton's experience is emblematic of the challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly in light of Trump’s executive order issued in January 2025, which declared that only two biological sexes—male and female—would be recognized in the U.S. This decree has led to significant changes in how passports and visas are processed, often disregarding the gender identities of transgender individuals.
“What concerns me is that a country is ignoring official documents regarding the existence of its own citizens and altering them according to the narrative and desires of the current president,” Hilton expressed on social media. She noted that this issue extends beyond transgender individuals, warning that the list of targeted groups is extensive.
In a bold move, Hilton announced that she will escalate the matter to the United Nations, framing the incident as “diplomatic transphobia.” She has also engaged the Brazilian government to seek a firm diplomatic response to the U.S. actions and is exploring international legal avenues against Trump and his administration's policies.
“This situation is more than just embarrassing; it is an act of violence and disrespect, an abuse of power that violates a Brazilian document,” she stated. Hilton highlighted the irony that in 2023, the same U.S. embassy had issued her a visa that respected her gender identity as reflected in her official documents.
“When this crosses into another country, it demands a diplomatic response from Itamaraty,” she insisted. Hilton’s case sheds light on the broader implications of the Trump administration's policies, which she characterized as exclusionary and hateful towards the transgender community.
As the situation unfolds, Hilton’s refusal to accept the visa and her decision to cancel her participation in the Brazil Conference signal a significant protest against systemic discrimination. Her actions resonate with many who have faced similar challenges and highlight the urgent need for international dialogue on transgender rights.
In conclusion, Erika Hilton’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community globally, particularly in the context of shifting political landscapes that threaten their rights and recognition. The response from both the Brazilian government and international bodies like the UN will be closely watched as this situation develops.
