Virus worsens Rio transgender community's hardships

After staying at home for almost one month and even counting on the support of part of her family, Alice Larubia, a 25-year-old transgender sex worker, had to go back to the streets to overcome the economic crisis caused by the pandemic in Brazil.

"My necessity spoke louder (than the pandemic), and I had to come back to the street," said Larubia while waiting for clients with a small group of colleagues.

She carries hand sanitizer in her purse and wears a mask on public transportation, but said she can't while working.

Larubia does as much as she can to avoid getting infected with COVID-19, even though she is scared of the virus.

"I'm scared….I know I'm at risk", a risk she is taking to earn between 10 to 20 dollars per night, less than half of what she used to obtain before the pandemic.

Alice has a permanent smile on her face, is always dancing, and making jokes among her colleagues, but she speaks seriously about her plans in a post-pandemic scenario.

"I don't want to work always in prostitution," she said, but complained about the difficulties she faces even during normal times to find a job.

Statistics released by Brazil's National Cross-dresser and Transgender Association, ANTRA, showed 90% of the people it represents are sex workers due to lacking opportunities and discrimination in the job market.

The association reported 60% of those people had not received the financial aid distributed from the government during the pandemic.

"Brazil is collapsing," said Bruna Brasil, a transgender woman who, together with her partner Wagner, sells candies and recycles cans from the trash to make their living.

She is still waiting for the approval to receive the 150 dollars provided by the government.

We don't have anything to eat, we have to beg (for money and food) recycling. I'm not ashamed of that, I'm proud because I recycle cans but I am….Brazil," she said, playing with the words and presenting herself like a portrait of a Brazil that is invisible to part of its society.

While Larubia, Bruna and others have to remain in the streets surviving, a group of LGBTQ people have found refuge through an association known as Casa Nem.

Since 2016 the NGO has taken control of a six-floor building located in Copacabana, with small rooms, shared bathrooms, and a big shared kitchen that provides shelter to LGBTQ victims of violence or those rejected by their family.

Indianara Siqueira leads the organization that is now helping those in the community to survive while remaining in quarantine.

"Based on the experience we had during the AIDS epidemic, when we were accused of being the vector of the virus and were left to die, we are now protecting the community," said Siqueira, herself a transgender sexual worker who became activist years ago.

The group receives donations of food, cleaning products and essentials from other NGOs and volunteers.

Nobody can go out unless there is a medical need or some very specific situation that forces them to leave the building.

Those arriving at Casa Nem have to remain in quarantine for 15 days, to be sure that they don't have any COVID-19 symptoms.

With almost 100 days under lockdown, they find it necessary to take advantage of the time and the group-organized shows, workshops, games and other activities to continue learning and fighting for their rights.

"They can invent an injection for the coronavirus," said Richard Alexandre, who lives in Casa Nem with his partner, a transgender woman and dancer, Lia Mercy.

"But there is no vaccine against homophobia, transphobia and oppression," he said.