By Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Lana de Holanda is the first transsexual entitled to wear a badge with her social name, in the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerj). The name she chose is stamped on the 28-year-old’s badge.
“A name is essential to any human being, right? You take your name according to your gender, according to who you are. And for us, we are trans women, transvestites, trans men, it’s very important that you have a name that defines you,” Lana said.
Since the beginning of the year, Lana has been working on the gender team in the office of MP Monica Francisco. The achievement of a name on a badge was not easy. She hopes it will be a first step towards inclusion of more trans people in Alerj.
“It is important that from this moment on, more means are created for other trans people who come to work here to have their respective social names on their badge,” says the advisor.
Before working for Alerj, Lana worked in the office of then-councilor Marielle Franco, also of PSOL, who died in March last year. Unemployed, she was afraid she would not get a new job because of prejudice in hiring trans people.
“Lana is one of those people we meet in life and we want to embrace. She is a warrior, who fights not only for herself but for the collective. Lana, as a trans woman, heads battles so that her voice is not silent, so that her dignity and her achievements are not annulled, ” said Congresswoman Monica Francisco.