Erika Hilton

• Politician
• activist
• pedagogue

Erika Hilton
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2023
Website	erikahilton.com.br

Erika Santos Silva, known as Erika Hilton (born 9 December 1992), is a Brazilian politician and activist for black and LGBT rights. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Hilton studied teaching and gerontology before entering politics. ^[4]

Affiliated to the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), in the 2020 elections, she gained national and international notice by becoming the first openly transgender councilor elected to the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo, receiving the most votes for any councilor in the country. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [3]}

In November 2021, she was honoured with a "Generation Change Award" at the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards in Budapest. ^[9]

In 2022, she and Duda Salabert became the first two openly transgender people elected to the National Congress of Brazil, with both of them elected to its Chamber of Deputies. ^{[10] [11]} Hilton was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022. ^[12]

A documentary about Erika Hilton is currently in production and will soon premiere in Brazil. It promises to offer a comprehensive and detailed view of Hilton's life and trajectory, highlighting her significant contributions to various aspects of Brazilian culture and politics. ^[13] The documentary is expected to provide valuable insights into her personal journey, challenges, and achievements, as well as explore her impact on social and political issues in Brazil. With its imminent release, the documentary is anticipated to serve as a source of inspiration and reflection for audiences in Brazil and beyond. ^[14]

Early life and education

Hilton was born in Franco da Rocha and grew up on the outskirts of Francisco Morato in Greater São Paulo. When she was 14, she and her family moved to Itu in the interior of São Paulo state. ^[15] Raised in an evangelical family, Hilton experienced gender-based violence by her uncles because of her gender identity, and ultimately became homeless at the age of 15, during which time she used sex work to survive. ^[16] After six years, Hilton returned to the care of her mother. ^[15]

Hilton subsequently completed her education and started studying pedagogy and gerontology at the Federal University of São Carlos, although she did not graduate. ^{[17] [18]} While at university, Hilton took part in student politics. ^[19]

Activism and political beginnings

In 2015, Hilton launched an online petition calling for transgender people to be given the right to choose their own names after a bus company in Itu refused to print her female name on a seasonal bus ticket. The petition went viral online, and was ultimately successful. ^[16]

Following her petition, Hilton gained national notice as a transgender rights activist. She was invited to join PSOL, and ran an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to become a councillor in Itu in 2016. ^[20]

Bancada Ativista (2018–2020)

In 2018, Hilton joined Bancada Ativista, a political movement calling for a diversification of Brazilian politics. She was part of a collective mandate which saw Mônica Seixas elected to the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo with 149,844 votes. Hilton officially acted as an aide to Seixas, but alongside the other members of Bancada Ativista, acted "almost as a parliamentarian"; the Legislative Assembly permitted Seixas' official portrait to show all members of the collective, although only Seixas was officially recognised as a member of the assembly. ^[21]

Municipal Chamber of São Paulo (2021–2023)

In 2020, Hilton left Bancada Ativista in order to stand as a candidate for the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo; she was elected with 50,508 votes, the most received by a female councillor, and became the first trans woman to occupy a seat in the chamber. ^[18] During the same election, Thammy Miranda became the first trans man to be elected to the chamber. ^[22] Hilton started her mandate in the chamber on 1 January 2021 and ran as the PSOL candidate to serve as president of the chamber, though was defeated by Milton Leite of the Democrats. ^[23] She was chosen as the leader of the PSOL councillors, which constituted the third largest party in the chamber. ^[24]

During her time as a councillor, Hilton sat on the chamber's commissions on human rights and citizenship, public administration, and education and culture. ^[25] Hilton's bills included a proposal to establish a municipal fund to fight hunger, with the objective of financing public policies to ensure food security in São Paulo. ^[26]

Chamber of Deputies (2023–present)

In March 2022, Hilton announced that she would stand as a PSOL candidate for São Paulo in the Chamber of Deputies. ^[27] She was ultimately successful, garnering 256,903 votes. ^[28] Hilton's mandate included the inclusion of trans people in the Brazilian workforce. ^[29]

In May 2023, Hilton was unanimously elected as vice president of the chamber's human rights, minorities and racial equality commission. ^[30]

In July 2023, during a parliamentary enquiry into the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack, deputy Abilio Brunini commented during a speech given by Hilton that she was "offering sexual services" in the chamber. ^[31] Following his comments, it was announced that Brunini would be investigated by the attorney general for "political and gender violence". ^[32]

In response to the proposal of bill 5167/2009, which would prohibit civil unions between same-sex couples, Hilton established the Parliamentary Front in Defence of Citizenship and the Rights of the LGBTI+ Community in September 2023, with the support of 210 deputies and senators, with the goal of promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT+ people. ^[33]

References

1. "erika-hilton". www.saopaulo.sp.leg.br.
2. "Erika Hilton, 1ª vereadora trans de SP: "Marginalização não é uma escolha, é uma sentença"". Metrópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 February 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
3. Nugent, Ciara (13 October 2021). "This Trans Politician Is Fighting for Change in Brazil — Despite the Dangers". Time . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
4. Downie, Andrew (28 September 2022). "'Lift this country up': trans pioneer Erika Hilton seeks Brazil election win". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 September 2022.
5. "Erika Hilton 50700 PSOL". politica.estadao.com.br.
6. "Lunardelli Goncalves Candidaturas". conjur.
7. "Erika Hilton, 1ª vereadora trans de SP: "Marginalização não é uma escolha, é uma sentença"". metropoles.
8. "No Roda Viva, Erika Hilton comenta os ataques sofridos pelos parlamentares do PSOL". cultura.uol.com.br.
9. Ramachandran, Naman (14 November 2021). "As MTV EMAs Go Ahead in Budapest Despite Anti-LGBTQ Laws, Hungarian Activist Award Winner Details 'Fear and Censorship'". Variety . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
10. "Brazil Elects First Two Transgender Members of Congress". www.advocate.com. 4 October 2022.
11. "Trans candidates make history as Brazil prepares to oust its homophobic president". xtramagazine.com. 4 October 2022.
12. "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
13. "Filme sobre Erika Hilton dirigido por Chica Andrade recebe R$ 160 mil de fundo para cineastas". Folha de S.Paulo .
14. "Erika Hilton". coletivobodoque (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
15. Brolli, Gabriel (18 November 2020). "Da prostituição à Câmara de SP, conheça a história de Erika Hilton". GQ (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
16. Griffin, Tamerra (21 November 2018). "Quem são e o que pensam estas duas mulheres trans eleitas deputadas em SP". Buzzfeed News (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
17. "Ficha do candidato a vereador Erika Hilton – PSOL – São Paulo SP | Eleições 2020". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 202. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
18. "Trans na política são resposta ao bolsonarismo, diz Erika Hilton, 6ª vereadora mais votada em SP". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
19. Lima, Claudia (23 September 2022). "A trajetória e lutas de Erika Hilton, estrela da capa digital da Vogue em dezembro". Vogue Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
20. "'Somos prova de que há outra possibilidade', diz codeputada Érika Hilton". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 December 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
21. "Mandato coletivo quebra barreiras na Assembleia de SP e projeta multiplicação". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
22. Fontana, Guilherme (20 November 2020). "Quem são os vereadores trans eleitos em 2020". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
23. Reverbel, Paula (1 January 2021). "Milton Leite é eleito presidente da Câmara de São Paulo por 49 votos a 6". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
24. "Erika Hilton lidera PSOL na Câmara de SP: "Chegamos na política para romper barreiras"". UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
25. "Erika Hilton faz história e é 1ª mulher negra e trans à frente da Comissão de Direitos Humanos da Câmara". Hypeness (in Portuguese). 31 March 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
26. "São Paulo terá fundo municipal de combate à fome". UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
27. "Mônica Bergamo: Erika Hilton vai concorrer à Câmara dos Deputados". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
28. "Apuração da Eleição 2022 para Governador em São Paulo". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
29. "Deputada Erika Hilton destaca a importância da inclusão de pessoas trans e travestis no mercado de trabalho". Serpro (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 August 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
30. da Silva, Camila (5 May 2023). "Erika Hilton assume vice-presidência da Comissão de Direitos Humanos na Câmara dos Deputados". CartaCapital (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
31. "CPI do 8 de Janeiro: deputado é acusado de transfobia contra Erika Hilton em depoimento de Mauro Cid; parlamentar nega". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
32. Albuquerque, Mariana (20 July 2023). "MP Eleitoral pede que deputado do PL seja investigado por transfobia contra Erika Hilton". CNN Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
33. Oliva, Gabriela (19 September 2023). "Deputados lançam Frente LGBT+ em resposta a projeto que proíbe união homoafetiva". O Tempo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2023.