Access to higher education is fundamental to our personal and professional development. But trans people and travestis often don't have this opportunity.

According to a study from the National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals (ANTRA), it is estimated that the trans population represents only 0.3% of Brazilian universities.

This lack of representation is no coincidence!

The education systems failure to meet the needs of the trans community leads to high rates of exclusion and limited access to private courses and institutions, which are generally expensive and difficult for this community to access.

We need to guarantee that trans people have access to and can remain in public universities throughout Brazil until the time they graduate. And the best way to make this a reality is through an effective affirmative action policy!

According to the Ministry of Education (MEC), even though the Federal Government's quota law - which provides specific quotas for Black, indigenous, disabled and low-income people at public universities - the agency does not include LGBT+ people. But this is allowed based on the principle of university autonomy, provided for in Article 207 of the Federal Constitution.

Thankfully, there is already positive movement in the direction of inclusion for Brazil's trans community – with 18 public universities already guaranteeing spaces for trans people!

But this is just the beginning... We need to ensure that this is the reality at ALL public universities in Brazil.

If we raise our voices loud enough, more public universities will listen to our request and adhere to the trans quota policy, empowering a long marginalized community. Sign this petition now so that your voice reaches the rectories of public universities across Brazil!

#CotasTransJá

This campaign was created by the organizations Unidas, ANTRA, IBRAT, Marsha Nacional pela Visibilidade Trans, Mães da Resistência and Afronte, with the support of All Out.

---

Public universities with an existing trans quota policy:

1. Federal University of Southern Bahia (UFSB) 2. Federal University of ABC (UFABC) 3. Federal University of Bahia (Ufba) 4. University for the International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab) 5. Federal University of Lavras (Ufla) 6. Federal University of Santa Catarina (Ufsc) 7. Federal University of Santa Maria (Ufsm) 8. Federal University of Rio Grande (Furg) 9. Federal University of Rondônia (Unir) 10. Federal University of Goiás (UFG) 11. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) 12. Fluminense Federal University (UFF) 13. Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) 14. University of Brasília (Unb) 15. Amapá State University (Ueap) 16. State University of Bahia (Uneb) 17. State University of Feira de Santana (Uefs) 18. State University of Campinas (Unicamp).