A Brazilian state lawmaker recently stirred controversy by applying blackface during governmental proceedings to express dissent against another federal official.
State Rep. Fabiana Bolsonaro, representing the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, shocked attendees on Wednesday by not only painting her face but also her arms brown.
There are reports suggesting that other lawmakers are now advocating for her removal from the Freedom Party, having officially filed an ethics complaint against her.
Bolsonaro explained that her use of makeup was intended as a protest against the inauguration of another government official, specifically against the appointment of Erika Hilton, who claims to be female and has become the chair of the House Committee on Women’s Rights. Hilton, a member of the Brazilian Socialist and Liberal Party, has sparked considerable debate regarding gender identity and representation.
During her speech, Bolsonaro remarked that she was opposing the notion that anyone can simply become a woman by declaring it. She stated, “I’ve lived my whole life as a white person, and now that I’m 32 years old, I’ve decided to put on makeup and pretend to be black… Have I become black?”
This line of questioning seemed to underscore her argument that donning makeup doesn’t equate to an authentic experience of race. “There is no point in pretending to be something,” she emphasized. “I say this as a woman. I’m a woman. Cross-dressing serves no purpose. I’m not offending transsexuals. On the contrary, I’m saying I’m a woman.”
Many critics from liberal circles challenged the accolades that Hilton received, asserting that the title of Woman of the Year should not be awarded to a trans individual. They argued that a transgender person should not replace a biological woman in such recognitions.
Bolsonaro, while expressing her views, showed respect for the transgender community, commenting on the rising number of violent crimes against trans individuals. She clarified, “I don’t want transgender people to be prejudiced, murdered, or discriminated against because they are transgender. But I also don’t want a transgender person to replace me.”
Interestingly, Bolsonaro is not related to the former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. She legally changed her name ahead of the 2022 elections to align with the president’s ideals and also altered her racial classification from white to mixed race.
In light of these events, Hilton has called on electoral authorities to scrutinize Bolsonaro’s changes in racial identification, which are governed by regulations that promote public funding for candidates of diverse backgrounds instituted in 2021.
