Brazilian Federal Deputy Erika Hilton and over 100 fellow parliamentarians, backed by 50 civil society organizations, have filed an official complaint with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The denunciation, submitted on April 29, accuses the United States of institutional transphobia following a diplomatic incident involving the misgendering of Hilton on an official visa.
At the heart of the controversy is a decree signed by Trump shortly after his return to office in January 2025. The order defines “sex” solely in biological terms and excludes gender identity from federal documentation. “As of today, the US government policy is that there are only two genders: male and female,” Trump declared in his inauguration speech. The decree is part of a broader campaign to eliminate what he refers to as “gender ideology” from federal policy and spending.
This policy had direct consequences for Hilton, Brazil’s first Black trans woman elected to Congress. Earlier this month, while preparing to attend the Brazil Conference—a prestigious academic event at Harvard and MIT—Hilton was issued a diplomatic visa by the U.S. that identified her as male, disregarding her Brazilian government-issued documents that recognize her as female. In protest, she canceled her trip and mobilized international support.
According to the UN complaint, the U.S. decree “disrespects her [Hilton’s] status as a parliamentarian in the diplomatic exercise of her political activities, and her identity as a Black trans woman.” The filing highlights how the case exposes a “systematic violation by the U.S. government targeting a specific group,” heightening risks of institutional discrimination and transphobic violence.
A separate complaint has also been submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), a key body of the Organization of American States (OAS). It demands immediate correction of the diplomatic visa and urges protection of Hilton’s right to identity and personal integrity when traveling on official missions.
Hilton’s case has sparked international debate over the rollback of LGBTQ+ protections under Trump’s leadership and raised concerns over the diplomatic consequences of U.S. domestic policy on gender. By standing firm, Erika Hilton underscores Brazil’s commitment to gender rights and inclusion—even on the global stage.
