Story perspectives

Brazil's First Black Trans Congresswoman Cancels Harvard Talk Over Visa Issue

4/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Erika Hilton, Brazil's first Black transgender congresswoman, canceled participation in the 2025 Brazil Conference at Harvard after a U.S. visa listed her gender as 'male'.
Hilton described the incident as institutional transphobia and filed a report with the United Nations.
Hilton has faced opposition in Congress and chairs the Chamber of Deputies’ Commission on the Defense of Women’s Rights.
She criticized President Donald Trump for inciting violence against marginalized communities.

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Story summary

Erika Hilton, Brazil's first Black transgender congresswoman, canceled participation in the 2025 Brazil Conference at Harvard after a U.S. visa listed her gender as 'male'.
Hilton described the incident as institutional transphobia and filed a report with the United Nations.
Hilton has faced opposition in Congress and chairs the Chamber of Deputies’ Commission on the Defense of Women’s Rights.
She criticized President Donald Trump for inciting violence against marginalized communities.