Maria Silvino Alves dos Santos Borges, known as Maria Sil, became the target of a series of transphobic attacks on social media after posting a video asking for job opportunities. She expressed her sadness about the violence seen on the internet, stating: «They ridicule me, mock my pain and my body, it is very violent».
Some users reacted negatively, with comments such as: «Nobody told you to become trans» or «Who will want to hire a ticking time bomb?». Another comment suggested that «No one will hire a man with mental problems who dresses as a woman». Maria Sil shared with g1 that she recorded the video as part of her effort for trans employability, and although she received positive support, she still feels great pain from every hateful message, describing the situation as a mix of «two worlds there» where violence often outweighs kindness.
Trans Employability
With technical training in Dramatic Arts, Maria Sil has previously worked as an actress, singer, and cultural producer, being responsible for several projects in the Baixada Santista region. In 2024, she released an album with original compositions. However, the chances of finding work have been progressively decreasing. The previous year, she moved to the city of São Paulo and began to get frustrated with the scarcity of vacancies.
In two years, despite sending over 500 resumes, Maria Sil was invited to only three interviews. Even in the rare opportunities obtained, she faced negative experiences, reporting that «In one of the last companies I worked for, my team constantly misgendered me,» and emphasizing the need for companies to implement retention policies.
Due to financial instability, she had to suspend her studies in Cultural Production, which further limits her options, given that many positions require higher education. She mentioned that it would be great to get a scholarship to resume her studies, as her degree is stalled, even with low tuition fees. According to data from the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), only 25% of the trans population has formal employment, a fact that, for Maria Sil, reinforces the urgency of the debate on the topic. The artist argued that «it is not about Maria. There is a larger structure that strengthens unemployment».
Diversity
Rafael Guilherme de Almeida, president of the Diversity Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) of Santos, clarified that the offenses directed at Maria Sil constitute crimes, even when they occur in the virtual environment. He stressed that the fact that the offense is on the internet does not exempt it from punishment, stating that while there is still a distance from the ideal, it is easier today to identify online crimes.
Almeida informed that the perpetrators can be located, even using fake profiles, through a judicial request to the platforms. He explained that since 2019, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) considers homophobia and transphobia to be covered by the Racism Law (Law 7.716/89), awaiting specific legislation from Congress. The lawyer added that such crimes are non-bailable and imprescriptible, and the victim has the right to seek compensation for moral damages in the civil sphere.
Additionally, he warned that refusing to hire someone because they are trans also constitutes discrimination. If there is evidence that the refusal occurred for this reason (such as messages or comments during interviews, or the immediate reopening of the vacancy), it is possible to seek accountability from the company.