(Interview Paul Hofman)
Enthusiastic activist for all transgender people of Brazilian origin. “I can’t always be who I am everywhere. As a transgender person I don’t always feel safe. Even in the Netherlands there are places where I don’t want people to know I’m trans. I’m ambassador this year because most transgender people don’t feel well represented within the LGBTI community. That needs to change. This is our Pride too!”
Interview
The Brazilian Ana Paula Lima is the face of the transgender community in our country for this Pride. She was born in São Paulo but fled at twenty. For her, building a life in her home country as a transgender person was impossible. “I actually grew up in Europe. Here I hardened.”
She talks about a life with many ups and downs when she realised she was different from others. “I am transgender and for me life in Brazil was therefore difficult. At the same time it was also very dangerous.” And it still is for transgender people, as a recent Human Rights Watch report shows. “If I have to sum it up in one word: it’s terrible.” Violence against LGBTI people is common. There are still countries where transgender people are abused, intimidated and persecuted,” she says softly.
After fleeing Brazil, Ana Paula went to Italy. She lived there for ten years. “That’s where I met the love of my life. And through that love I eventually ended up in the Netherlands.”
The Netherlands is close to her heart. She lives here happily. Although it is not always easy to be transgender in our country, Ana Paula admits. “Even in certain neighbourhoods of Amsterdam I can’t be myself. I feel very unsafe there, so I avoid them.” Although Brazil and the Netherlands are totally different, they share one thing: the position of transgender people is very poor, Ana Paula emphasises.
In the Netherlands she decided to actively work for the transgender community. “I’ve always had a sense of justice. From a young age I faced discrimination because I’m transgender. But I never did anything about it until the activism bubbled up in me.” Proud: “I threw myself into it because I saw that even in Amsterdam transgender emancipation lagged behind the rest of the LGBTI community.” Now she is a committed activist who firmly puts the transgender community on the map. No one can ignore her anymore. That she sometimes swims against the tide doesn’t bother her.
That Ana Paula was asked to be an ambassador came as a great surprise. “I absolutely didn’t expect this. I felt very happy because the work I do for my community is being recognised.” It is a crown on the work she carries out with great dedication, energy and involvement. She continues: “I am ambassador this year because most transgender people don’t feel well represented in our larger LGBTI community. That must change!” Ana Paula sounds determined: “This is our Pride too.”
The ambassadorship gives her more hope. “I hope our visibility improves and grows at the same time. As an ambassador I can make clear that the T in the abbreviation LGBTI needs more attention.” Then: “As transgender people we also have talents. My community is suffering now and I want everyone to face that truth. That’s what I work for.”
About how she will fill her new role Ana Paula is outspoken. There is little room for doubt: “For a long time transgender people have been a forgotten group. Did you know that during the Canal Parade last year a transgender boat took part for the first time in history?” It meant a huge victory.
As she leaves, the remarkable figurehead of transgender people says emotionally: “As a trans woman I feel forgotten and ignored. I dream that the prejudices against transgender people will disappear and that we can enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else.”
Then the mission of this passionate advocate for transgender acceptance will have succeeded. Busy times lie ahead for Ana Paula.
Her appointment as ambassador is a small step on the way to a better world.
Pride Ambassador since 2017
