In the last 17 years, Brazil has buried the bodies of 180 murdered lesbian women who were victims of intolerance resulting from their sexual orientation. This is what an unprecedented survey carried out by the Lesbocide Research Group – The stories that nobody tells.
The Dossier on Lesbocide in Brazil is a document that consists of recovering information in order to tell the stories of lesbian victims of homophobia in Brazil.
The document points to a dizzying growth in this type of crime in recent years, between 2013 and 2017, with the highest number of victims occurring between 2016 and 2017, when homicides jumped from 30 to 54. It is important to highlight that these data concern only to cases that are considered lesbophobia, which means that this number could be much higher.
Regarding the characteristics of the killers, the research states that the majority are men.
"Lesbians have sexual and emotional relationships exclusively with women, but the main killers of lesbians in Brazil are men, which means that the marital bond between victim and killer, very common in cases of domestic violence resulting in feminicides, does not occur in cases of lesbocide", says the text of the dossier.
READ TOO: Teenager killed with knife for defending young gay man from attack
By state, São Paulo records the highest number of crimes, being responsible for 20% of all deaths. The majority of homicides took place in cities in the interior of the country: of the 126 cases registered between 2014 and 2017, 82 occurred in interior cities.
LGBT DEATHS
According to the reference NGO on the subject, 445 deaths were recorded, the equivalent of one murder every 19 pm. Again, it is important to highlight that these numbers may not reflect the reality of the facts, which could be much worse.
By state, São Paulo recorded the highest number of crimes: 59 in total. Minas Gerais appears in second with 43 and Bahia in third with 35.
TRANSPHOBIA
Also in January, the National Alliance of Transvestites and Transsexuals (ANTRA) released exclusive and previously unpublished research on transgender deaths in Brazil.
READ TOO: Three transvestites are stabbed in the face by stalker in Bahia
According to the entity, 169 deaths of male and female transsexuals and 10 transvestites were recorded, adding up to a total of 179 crimes, the equivalent of one life taken, a victim of transphobia, every 48 hours.
