Brazil

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

209 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

17 million

Brazil Government, 2009

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

There are few nationwide statistics on SGM demographics in Brazil. The 2010 Census reported 60,002 same-sex couple households (IGBE, 2012). A survey conducted by the University of Sao Paolo found that 7.8% of men identified as gay, and 2.6% identifed as bisexual. The survey found 4.9% identified as lesbian, and 1.4% of females identified as bisexual.

Brazil's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION

Marriage for Same-Sex Couples	Yes
Civil Unions	Yes
Joint Adoption	Yes
Second Parent Adoption	Yes

PROTECTION

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	Yes
Broad Protections	Yes
Criminalization of Violence	No
Ban of Conversion Therapy	Yes

CRIMINALIZATION

Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Benevides, BG; Nogueira, SNB. Dossier: murder and violence against travestis and transsexuals in Brazil in 2018 [inPortuguese]. National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals/Brazilian Trans Education Institute. 2019. http://antrabrasil.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/dossie-dos-assassinatos-e-violencia-contra-pessoas-trans-em-2018.pdf.

Jesus JG. Xica Manicongo: the transgenderity takes the floor [in Portuguese]. Rev Doc Cib. 2019 Jan-Apr; 3(1): 250-260. https://www.academia.edu/39951457/V._3_n._1_2019_-_TRANSINSURG%C3%8ANCIAS_POL%C3%8DTICAS_RE_EXIST%C3%8ANCIAS_EM_REDE

Jesus, JG. Crossing: paths of trans people in history[in Portuguese]. In: Green, J.N.; Quinalha, R.; Caetano, M.; Fernandes, M.(Orgs.), História do movimento LGBT no Brasil. São Paulo: Alameda, 2018:379-392.

Kerrogan D, Vazzano A, Bertoni N, Malta M, Bastos F. Stigma, discrimination, and HIV outcomes among people living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The intersection of multiple social inequalities. Global Public Health. 2017:12(2):185-189. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26256402/

Malta M, Silva AB, LeGrand S, Whetten K, Wells S. HIV/AIDS, human rights, and transgender people in Latin America. Lancet Public Health. 2019;4(6):e279.

Malta M, Gomes de Jesus J, LeGrand S, Seixas M, Benevides B, Silva MD, Lana JS, Huynh HV, Belden CM, Whetten K. ‘Our life is pointless...’: Exploring discrimination, violence, and mental health challenges among sexual and gender minorities from Brazil. Global Public Health. 2020:1-16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32436430/

Silva GWX. Souza EFL, Sena RCF, Moura IBL, Sobreira MVS, Miranda FAN. Cases of violence involving transvestites and transsexuals in a northeast Brazilian city. Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2016 June; 37(2):e56407. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27253596/