Emilia Schneider, elected first trans woman in Chile Congress

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Student leader Emilia Schneider became the first trans woman in the history of Chile to be elected deputy after the elections that reconfigured the composition of the Congress.

With 99.94 percent of the tables counted, Emilia Schneider, a member of the Comunes Party, which is part of the Frente Amplio coalition, obtained 26,130 votes and will represent District 10 of Santiago de Chile.

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Emilia Schneider, who declared that this historic triumph is collective, said that this achievement is due to “every compañera who built trans and diverse organization, which allowed many of us to identify ourselves”.

In an encouraging message, the Chilean politician underlined that “today we are managing to be part of the decision-making process, so that many more can live without fear of being who they are” and said that she would work hard for Chile and democracy to be transformed, from a vision of plurality and “without leaving anyone behind, despite the adversities”.

Regarding the political situation in Chile, in a context marked by the recent presidential elections, the deputy remarked that “this is a day of mixed feelings. On the one hand, hatred is advancing. On the other, there is hope. I want to thank all your support, and today I assume with humility and much honor to be the first trans deputy of Chile. This is a step forward thanks to years of feminist and dissident struggle”, she said.

For its part, the Chilean group Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh) recognized Schneider’s victory, as well as that of Marcela Riquelme Aliaga and Camila Musante Muller, the first openly lesbian/bisexual women to reach the Chilean Congress.

Movilh spokesperson, Daniela Andrade, considered that “these persevering and exemplary women have come to tell the entire political-electoral scene that sexual orientation and gender identity can no longer be the object of censorship or discredit to run for public office”.

She also emphasized that they “have come to make it clear that sexual orientation or gender identity is irrelevant to exercise any work, only the capabilities, proposals, and level of convocation are important. They have made history. We congratulate them with deep joy and enormous pride.”

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