A Brazilian state lawmaker, Fabiana Bolsonaro, ignited a significant controversy in mid-March 2026 when she applied blackface makeup during a speech on the floor of the São Paulo Legislative Assembly. The demonstration was staged in opposition to the appointment of Erika Hilton, the first openly transgender woman elected to Brazil’s National Congress, as chair of the Commission for the Defence of Women’s Rights. The incident has prompted formal complaints and widespread condemnation across Brazil and beyond.
During her address from the lectern, Ms. Bolsonaro, a member of the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, began applying makeup to her face, repeatedly questioning her fellow legislators whether she had "become black." She articulated her intent behind the act, stating, "As a white person, having lived through everything I’ve experienced as a white person, now, at 32, I’ve decided to put on makeup, to dress up as a black person, cover myself up, and let only the outside show." She then directly asked the assembly, "Have I become black?"
Ms. Bolsonaro elaborated on her performance, asserting that by painting herself black, she aimed to "feel firsthand the pain that a black person has felt because of racism, because of not being able to get a job." She concluded this part of her demonstration by stating, "There’s no point in me putting on makeup. I don’t know the pain you’ve gone through. There’s no point in me pretending … But right now I’m not black," as she raised her painted arms.
She then pivoted her argument to a rhetorical challenge regarding identity and representation. "I’m painted black on the outside. Come on, I identify as black. So why can’t I, then, chair the commission on racism, the anti-racism commission? Why can’t I advocate for this? Why can’t I address this issue?" Ms. Bolsonaro answered her own question decisively: "Do you know why I can’t address this issue? Because I’m not black."
Following this, Ms. Bolsonaro began removing the makeup, shifting her focus to gender identity, which was the core subject of her protest. "As a woman, I am a woman. It’s no use dressing up as a woman. And I’m not here to offend transgender people … I’m saying, as a woman, I want to be seen as a woman. The woman of the year cannot be transgender … So, what I’m saying here is that transgender people must be respected … But I also don’t want any trans person to take my place," she stated. She further contended that trans women do not undergo experiences she considers fundamental to womanhood, such as childbirth, breastfeeding, or endometriosis.
The protest was a direct response to the recent appointment of Erika Hilton to lead the Commission for the Defence of Women’s Rights. Ms. Hilton's appointment had already garnered significant attention as she is a prominent figure in Brazilian politics, having made history as the first openly transgender woman elected to Brazil’s National Congress. The commission's role is to advocate for and protect the rights of women, making the leadership position a focal point for discussions on gender identity and representation.
The controversial speech was not without immediate repercussions within the assembly. Monica Seixas, a colleague of Ms. Bolsonaro and a PSOL lawmaker, interrupted the speech, openly accusing Ms. Bolsonaro of transphobia, racism, and blackface. Ms. Seixas requested the suspension of both the session and its broadcast, according to reports from the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. Despite the interruption, session chair Fábio Faria de Sá allowed Ms. Bolsonaro to complete her address and stated that the incident would be referred to the Assembly’s leadership for review.
In the aftermath of the event, Ms. Seixas, along with 18 other lawmakers, filed a petition arguing that Ms. Bolsonaro's actions violated constitutional principles and reinforced stigmas against transgender individuals. Ms. Seixas also filed a police report for racial discrimination, as reported by Revolver News. Separately, other PSOL lawmakers filed a criminal complaint with federal prosecutors and submitted a petition to the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office, indicating a broad legal and political challenge to Ms. Bolsonaro's conduct. The incident has intensified the ongoing national debate in Brazil concerning identity, representation, and the boundaries of political expression.
