Erika Hilton

Last updated

Erika Hilton
Deputada federal Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) na Comissao de Defesa dos Direitos da Mulher (CMULHER) (cropped).jpg
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
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]

Contents

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chico Alencar</span> Brazilian politician and historian

Francisco Rodrigues de Alencar Filho, known as Chico Alencar, is a Brazilian politician, historian, and writer, affiliated with the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilherme Boulos</span> Brazilian politician (born 1982)

Guilherme Castro Boulos is a Brazilian politician, activist and writer. He is a member of the National Coordination of Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST). Boulos joined the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) in 2018, and was PSOL's candidate for the presidency of Brazil in the 2018 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruno Covas</span> Former mayor of São Paulo, Brazil

Bruno Covas Lopes was a Brazilian lawyer, economist, and politician who was a member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and served as the mayor of São Paulo from 2018 until his death in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabo Daciolo</span> Brazilian politician

Benevenuto Daciolo Fonseca dos Santos, known as Cabo Daciolo, is a Brazilian military firefighter, pastor and politician affiliated to the Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB). In 2014, he was elected federal deputy. He was expelled from the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) in 2015 and later affiliated to the Labour Party of Brazil, Patriota, Podemos (PODE), Liberal Party and the Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Valente</span> Brazilian politician, teacher and engineer

Ivan Valente is a Brazilian politician, teacher and engineer. He has been a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) since 2005 and is a federal deputy for the state of São Paulo. He is the party leader at the Chamber of Deputies, and was PSOL's president from 2011 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carla Zambelli</span> Brazilian politician

Carla Zambelli Salgado de Oliveira is a Brazilian far-right activist and politician. Founder of the movement On the Streets, Zambelli gained notoriety through her activism in favor of the impeachment of the ex-president Dilma Rousseff. In the elections of 2018, she was elected federal deputy for São Paulo, by the Social Liberal Party (PSL).

A special election for the position of president of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil took place on July 14, 2016, during the 55th legislature. The election was necessary due to the resignation of Eduardo Cunha, announced on the 7th of that month. According to the Brazilian Constitution, the president of the Chamber of Deputies is the second in line of succession to the Presidency of the Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 São Paulo mayoral election</span>

The 2020 São Paulo municipal election took place in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, with the first round taking place on 15 November 2020 and the second round taking place on 29 November 2020. Voters voted to elect the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and 55 city councillors for the administration of the city. The result was a 2nd round victory for incumbent Mayor Bruno Covas of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), winning 3,169,121 votes and a share of 59,38% of the popular vote, defeating political activist Guilherme Boulos of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), who took 2,168,109 votes and a share of 40.62% of the popular vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sâmia Bomfim</span> Brazilian politician

Sâmia de Souza Bomfim is a Brazilian politician. She has spent her political career representing São Paulo, having served as federal deputy representative since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Feliciano</span> Brazilian politician (born 1972)

Marco Antônio Feliciano is a Brazilian politician as well as a pastor, writer, film producer, and theologian. He has spent his political career representing São Paulo, having served as federal deputy representative since 2011. A polarizing figure in Brazilian politics due to his outspoken conservative views, his election to president of the commission on human rights and minorities caused controversy and protest due to Feliciano's comments regarding Africans, LGBTQ individuals, women, Catholics, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo Garcia (politician)</span> Brazilian politician (born 1974)

Rodrigo Garcia is a Brazilian lawyer, businessman and politician, who was affiliated with the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). He was state deputy elected for three consecutive legislatures, 1999–2002, 2003–2006 and 2007–2010, and president of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo from 15 March 2005 to 15 March 2007. He had served as Governor of São Paulo from April to December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil election</span>

The 2021 President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil election took place on 1 February 2021, the day after the opening day of the 3rd Session of the 56th Legislature of the National Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duda Salabert</span> Brazilian politician (born 1981)

Duda Salabert Rosa is a Brazilian politician, environmentalist, and teacher. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thais Ferreira</span>

Thais de Souza Ferreira is a Brazilian community activist and politician who has been a councilwoman for the Municipal Chamber of the city of Rio de Janeiro since 2021. A community leader in the neighborhood of Irajá, in the North Zone, she entered politics with the encouragement of councilwoman Marielle Franco, who had been assassinated in March 2018, becoming a first substitute for the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Brasil</span> Brazilian politician and activist (born 1973)

Linda Brasil Azevedo Santos is a teacher, LGBT rights activist, and politician who became the first trans woman elected to a parliamentary position in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. She was elected in 2020 as a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivi Reis</span> Brazilian physiotherapist, popular educator, feminist and political militant

Viviane da Costa Reis is a Brazilian physiotherapist, popular educator, feminist and political militant, member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). She is currently Federal Deputy from Pará.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">57th Legislature of the National Congress</span> Incumbent meeting of the legislature of Brazil

The 57th Legislature of National Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the Federal Government of Brazil, composed by the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. It convened in Brasília on 1 February 2023, a month after the inauguration of the winner of the 2022 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Silva (politician)</span> Brazilian politician, former Minister of Sports

Orlando Silva de Jesus Júnior is a Brazilian politician affiliated with the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB). He was Minister of Sports in the Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff governments and was elected federal deputy in 2014. In the Chamber of Deputies, he was vice-leader of President Dilma Rousseff between 2015 and 2016. He was chairman of the Labor, Administration and Public Services Commission in 2017, and leader of the PCdoB bench in 2018.

Isabella Gonçalves Miranda, better known as Bella Gonçalves, is a Brazilian political scientist and politician. She served as a city councilor in Belo Horizonte representing the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). Isabella also held the position of president of the city section of PSOL and was an active member of the Brigadas Populares, advocating for the right to the city. Notably, she became the first openly lesbian city councilor in Belo Horizonte. She was elected as a State Representative of Minas Gerais in 2022.

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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.