During LGBTQIAP+ Pride Month, celebrating achievements also means looking at the challenges that still exist. Despite underreporting, the LGBT community represents approximately 91% of the Brazilian population and only 11% of candidates in the 2022 elections, according to a survey conducted by [organization name missing]. VoteLGBT.orgFurthermore, they occupy a small percentage of the country's elected positions. Conversely, advancements such as the recognition of same-sex civil marriage, the criminalization of LGBTphobia, and the right to legal name and gender change highlight the role of political participation in expanding rights and strengthening democracy.
In elected positions, underrepresentation is evident. It is estimated that only 0.16% of mandates in Brazil are held by people from the LGBTQIAP+ community. It is worth noting that there is no official data on these candidacies held by the Electoral Court. In Brazil, there is a gap in the collection of data on this population.
The situation is aggravated by challenges such as political violence, discrimination, and difficulties in accessing campaign funding. Despite this, progress is visible. In 2022, Brazil recorded a record number of LGBTQIAP+ candidates and elected to state and federal legislative positions, demonstrating that the fight for rights also involves occupying decision-making spaces.
More diversity
For Wanessa Fortes, a RenovaBR alumna, her political journey is directly linked to her experiences as a Black, bisexual woman. The support of her family, especially her parents, was fundamental in enabling her to move forward and transform her personal experience into motivation for political action.
In her view, expanding LGBTQIAP+ representation in positions of power means ensuring that historically ignored demands are heard. "Having LGBT representatives in politics, for me, is the certainty that the struggle changes lives," she states.
She further emphasizes that issues such as employability, especially for trans women, need to be addressed as social and political problems. "Many times we are left aside, but we continue fighting and resisting," she adds.
Councilman Willian Carvalho, a RenovaBR leader from Quatis (RJ), believes that the presence of LGBTQIAP+ people in politics benefits the entire society. He states that his career has been marked by the realization that many groups did not see themselves represented in decision-making spaces.
Before holding an elected office, Willian was already involved in social projects related to education, culture, and volunteering. For him, politics emerged as a tool to expand this work and ensure that more voices were considered in the development of public policies.
Political violence and barriers to participation
Despite the progress, the leaders interviewed report that prejudice remains present in political life. The VoteLGBT survey indicates that 491,300 LGBTQIAP+ candidates reported experiencing discrimination or threats related to their sexual orientation, while 291,300 faced attacks linked to their gender identity. Candidates also report structural difficulties in running for office, including cases of underfunding of political parties.
Wanessa observes that LGBTphobia often takes institutional forms. "LGBTphobia just changes location. They don't want to listen, they make jokes and try to sideline us before we even have a chance to speak," she reports.
Willian reports that he has also faced attempts to delegitimize him because of his sexual orientation and racial identity. "Unfortunately, prejudice still exists and manifests itself in comments, judgments, and attempts at disqualification," he states. For him, the answer lies in building bridges, consistency, and commitment to public service.
Nayana Tulio, a RenovaBR alumna and alternate city councilor in Mãe do Rio (PA), points out that there is still a mistaken association between the LGBTQIAP+ agenda and stereotypes that seek to reduce the community to its private life.
“Many people associate LGBTQIAP+ issues with vulgarity. I deal with this by showing that my personal life doesn't interfere with my professional competence,” she states. She further adds that “it is of utmost importance to have space for minorities within legislative bodies; this truly ratifies democracy and gives a voice to everyone.”
Rights gained, challenges that remain.
While challenges remain, leaders also acknowledge the significant progress made over the past few decades.
Nayana cites the recognition of same-sex marriage and advancements related to adoption by same-sex couples as fundamental milestones in guaranteeing rights.
Wanessa highlights the criminalization of LGBTphobia as an achievement that reinforces the protection of the LGBTQIAP+ population and mentions recent advances in her state. In Sergipe, a constitutional amendment approved in 2025 included gender identity in the state Constitution, an initiative that involved state representative Linda Brasil, the first trans woman elected in the state. She emphasizes that this achievement was the result of much dialogue.
For Willian, it is also essential to acknowledge the journey of those who paved the way for new generations. "We need to honor those who came before us in this struggle so that today we can enjoy these achievements."
Among the main challenges are combating political violence, expanding access to political parties, strengthening new leadership, and guaranteeing real conditions for competing in elections with equal opportunities.
Wanessa draws attention to another point: the lack of official data on the LGBTQIAP+ population in Brazil. Currently, the country still has significant gaps in the collection of information on sexual orientation and gender identity, which hinders the formulation of appropriate public policies.
"The biggest challenge is ensuring that our community's data is available so that we can understand our needs," he says.
