Duda Salabert Rosa (born 2 May 1981) is a Brazilian politician, environmentalist, and teacher.[1] In 2020, she became the first transgender person to serve on the city council of Belo Horizonte after campaigning as a Democratic Labour Party candidate. She was elected with over 37,000 votes, more than any city council candidate in the history of Minas Gerais at the time.
Duda Salabert | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Salabert in 2023 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 1 February 2023 | |
| Constituency | Minas Gerais |
| Councillor of Belo Horizonte | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 1 February 2023 | |
| Constituency | At-large |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Duda Salabert Rosa 2 May 1981 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Political party | PDT (2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations | PSOL (2017–2019) |
| Spouse |
Raíssa Novaes (m. 2011) |
| Alma mater | Minas Gerais State University |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Since 2023, she has represented the state of Minas Gerais as a federal deputy.[2]
Personal life
editSalabert began working as a teacher in 2002. She cofounded Transvest, a non-governmental organization focused on combating transphobia.[3]
Duda is a lesbian,[4] married with Raíssa. In 2019, they had a child and chose a gender-neutral name for them.[5]
Political activity
editIn 2018, Salabert campaigned as a Socialism and Liberty Party candidate to represent the state of Minas Gerais in the Brazilian Senate.[7] Salabert said that she had received invitations to campaign for other offices, but that she chose the Senate as a form of provocation, noting that the etymology of the term senate relates to men and that "if it is a space made for gentlemen, a travesti woman seeking this space is extremely provocative".[a] She additionally stated that she had been targeted on social media and that she feared escalation to physical violence. She was 36 years old at the time.[8] Salabert received more than 350,000 votes,[7] not winning the election but becoming the first transgender person to run for the Brazilian Senate.[9]
In April 2019, Salabert left the Socialism and Liberty Party, criticizing the party for "structural transphobia" and anthropocentrism.[10]
In 2020, Salabert was elected to the city council of Belo Horizonte after campaigning as a member of the Democratic Labour Party. She was the first transgender person elected to the Belo Horizonte city council, and with 37,000 votes in support, the most-voted-for city council candidate in Minas Gerais history at the time.[7] In December 2020, the school where Salabert taught received an email threatening both her and the school if she remained in her position, and she was fired.[9]
In June 2021, Salabert announced that she would campaign for a Senate seat in 2022. She had previously pledged to serve for her entire 4-year term on the Belo Horizonte city council, but stated that she had been advised by the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to seek a position in the federal government so that she could be protected by the Polícia Federal after having received death threats.[9]
In 2022 Salabert and Erika Hilton became the first two openly transgender people elected to the National Congress of Brazil, with both of them elected to its Chamber of Deputies.[11][12]
Notes
edit- ^ Original quote in Portuguese: "Eu aceitei pelo caráter simbólico. Senado, na sua etimologia, significa 'senhores'. Se é um espaço feito para senhores, uma mulher travesti disputando esse espaço é extremamente provocativo."
References
edit- ^ "Com participação de Duda Salabert, aula inaugural do ICB discute diversidade de gênero e ciência" [With the participation of Duda Salabert, ICB's inaugural class discusses gender and science diversity]. Federal University of Minas Gerais. May 24, 2021. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Primeiras deputadas trans, Erika Hilton e Duda Salabert tomam posse no Congresso". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Ernesto, Marcelo (March 13, 2018). "Minas pode ter a primeira mulher travesti disputando uma das vagas ao Senado" [Minas may have the first transvestite woman competing for a seat in the Senate]. Estado de Minas. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "#Conheça: Duda Salabert – o poder das mulheres trans na política em Belo Horizonte (MG)". Rede NINJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). November 10, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Paes, Cíntia (January 7, 2019). "Duda Salabert, criadora da ONG Transvest, anuncia gravidez da mulher pelas redes sociais". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Duda Salabert – CARTA COMPROMISSO SOCIOAMBIENTAL" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c Cardin, Adele (November 17, 2020). "Brazil's Sixth-Largest City Elects Its First Trans City Councilor, Duda Salabert". The Rio Times. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ Conteúdo, Estadão (August 12, 2018). "Duda Salabert: quem é a primeira candidata trans ao Senado" [Duda Salabert: who is the first trans candidate for the Senate]. Veja. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c Malheiro, Franco (June 9, 2021). "Vereadora Duda Salabert mira o Senado, mas terá concorrência no PDT" [Councilwoman Duda Salabert targets the Senate, but will have competition in the PDT]. O Tempo. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ Guerra, Rayanderson (April 22, 2019). "Primeira trans a disputar vaga ao Senado, Duda Salabert deixa PSOL e acusa partido de 'transfobia estrutural'" [Duda Salabert, first trans person to seek Senate seat, leaves PSOL and accuses party of 'structural transphobia']. O Globo. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Brazil Elects First Two Transgender Members of Congress". www.advocate.com. October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Trans candidates make history as Brazil prepares to oust its homophobic president". xtramagazine.com. October 4, 2022.