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An Alarming New Report on Anti-LGBT Violence

Brazil recorded at least 257 violent deaths of LGBT+ individuals in 2025, according to data published by the Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB) on January 18, 2026. As the oldest LGBT+ NGO in Latin America, GGB has been documenting these cases since 1980 using various sources, including media, social networks, and direct reports, due to the absence of centralized official statistics on crimes driven by anti-LGBT bias.

On average, the report indicates one violent death every 34 hours. Although this number represents a 11.7% decrease from 2024 (with 291 cases), GGB advises caution, emphasizing that the apparent reduction does not necessarily indicate a true decrease in violence. Instead, it could be attributed to the ongoing issue of underreporting.

Between Homicides and Hate-Related Suicides

Out of the 257 recorded deaths, the report categorizes 237 as homicides and 20 as suicides, highlighting these specific details. The study further broadens its scope by considering cases like latrocínios (fatal robberies) and deaths under particular circumstances. The absence of a unified national hate crime registry complicates the analysis, making categorization sometimes uncertain.

Gay Men and Trans Individuals at the Forefront

As in previous years, gay men are most affected, accounting for 156 victims (60.7%). Following them are trans women (46) and travestis (18), together representing nearly a quarter of the deaths. The report also includes deaths among bisexual individuals (9), lesbians (4), and trans men (3). Additionally, three heterosexual individuals were killed for supporting LGBT+ people or being perceived as such.

Information gaps hinder the identification of sexual orientation or gender identity in 16 cases, exposing the opacity of some media or police sources.

A High-Profile Case Raises Concerns in the Federal District

The study highlights the widespread geographical presence of such violence, with cases reported in all regions of the country. A particularly notable incident in early January 2025 in the Federal District drew significant attention: João Emmanuel Ribeiro Gonçalves de Moura Carvalho, a 32-year-old teacher, was killed in Sobradinho II, near Brasília. The case resulted in an arrest and was widely covered by local media.

Brazil Remains the Most Dangerous Country for LGBT+ Individuals

The GGB reaffirms that, in 2025, Brazil remains the country with the highest number of recorded violent LGBT+ deaths, warning that these figures represent only “the tip of the iceberg”. The massive underreporting and lack of a public tracking system heighten the challenge of providing a true depiction of the situation.

The report also incorporates international data, such as that from Transgender Europe (TGEU), which consistently ranks Brazil among the deadliest countries for trans individuals.

Recognized Rights, Yet Legal Protections Remain Fragile

Despite some legal advancements, the situation remains precarious. LGBT+ rights in Brazil—such as marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections—have been achieved through judicial decisions, primarily from the Supreme Court, rather than through legislation passed by Parliament. This setup makes legal guarantees vulnerable to political changes and institutional gaps.

Marcelo Brito Guimarães, an attorney linked to STOP Homophobia, points to persistent obstacles: a lack of training within the judicial system, failure to uphold existing rights, and pressure from religious groups seeking to challenge progress.

Community Organizations at the Forefront

Due to insufficient public policies, LGBT+ community organizations play a key role: providing emergency shelter, psychosocial support, healthcare access, legal aid, and building solidarity networks. These initiatives fill the gap left by the absence of state safety nets, particularly in the most vulnerable areas.

The GGB calls for increased state involvement with concrete actions in prevention, hate crime recognition, and the development of standardized statistical tools to bring these acts of violence into the open and guide effective policies.

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