2019,
Brazil,
Maria Luiza da Silva,
Portuguese,
Director: Marcelo Díaz
Release Year: 2019
Synopsis:
"Maria Luiza" (2019), a documentary directed by Marcelo Díaz, follows the extraordinary journey of Maria Luiza da Silva, the first transgender person in the history of the Brazilian Armed Forces. Born on July 20, 1960—Brazil's National Aviation Day in honor of Alberto Santos Dumont, the father of aviation—Maria Luiza's life and career in the military are intertwined with struggles for recognition, justice, and the affirmation of her identity as a transgender, Catholic, and military woman. The documentary delves into her battles against prejudice, her fight for the right to wear a female uniform, and her ongoing legal battles for promotions and benefits she was denied due to systemic discrimination. This is a story of resilience, identity, and the intersection of gender, faith, and service to the nation."
Maria Luiza entered the Brazilian Armed Forces in the early 1980s as an aeronautical mechanic, a specialized and technical role within the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). She dedicated 22 years of her life to the military, rising through the ranks with a reputation for professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise. However, her career would take an unexpected turn after a personal decision in the late 1990s—she chose to undergo gender-affirming surgery. This decision, rather than being met with support or understanding, led to her forced retirement from the military in 2000.
At the time of her surgery, Maria Luiza was deemed "incapable" of performing her duties by a military medical board, which cited her gender transition as the reason for her medical discharge. Despite her exemplary service record, the military viewed her as unfit for service after her transition, and she was forced into a "disability" retirement, receiving a proportional pension based on her lower rank at the time. The reasoning behind her discharge was discriminatory and rooted in the belief that a transgender person could not maintain the same professional standards as their cisgender counterparts.
This decision marked the beginning of Maria Luiza’s long battle for justice.
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Maria Luiza did not accept her forced discharge quietly. She began a legal struggle to have her retirement benefits and career status adjusted to reflect the military promotions she would have received if she had not been forced out due to her transition. Her case became a symbol of the intersection between LGBTQ+ rights, military service, and the Brazilian judicial system’s treatment of transgender people.
In 2016, a major legal victory occurred when the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF-1) ruled that a person's sexual orientation or gender identity could not be considered a "permanent incapacity" for military service. The court annulled the decision that had invalidated Maria Luiza's ability to continue her military career. However, the ruling came too late for her. By the time the decision was made, she had already surpassed the age limit to return to the military (48 years old), a significant barrier that prevented her from resuming her duties.
As a result, Maria Luiza shifted her focus to securing a fair pension and seeking the promotions she was denied due to the illegal decision that had forced her out. She sought recognition as a military member who, had she not been unfairly discharged, would have reached the rank of subofficer (subtenente), one of the higher non-commissioned officer positions in the Air Force.
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Marcelo Díaz’s "Maria Luiza" documentary provides an in-depth look into the life of this trailblazer and the systemic challenges she faced in a deeply conservative institution like the Brazilian military. The film documents Maria Luiza's personal journey of self-affirmation, highlighting her identity as a woman, a Catholic, a military member, and a transgender person. It sheds light on the prejudices she encountered not only from her colleagues but also from the military hierarchy that refused to acknowledge her gender identity and professional achievements.
The documentary explores Maria Luiza’s complex relationship with the Brazilian Armed Forces, an institution that she proudly served, yet which marginalized her because of her gender transition. It gives voice to her emotional and legal struggles as she fights to restore her dignity and her rightful place within the military system, emphasizing her determination to receive the full benefits of her long career.
Through interviews, archival footage, and personal reflections, the documentary portrays a woman who, despite being an innovator and trailblazer, was subjected to discrimination and injustice due to systemic homophobia and transphobia. It also highlights the tension between Maria Luiza’s Catholic faith and the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement, showing how she navigated these seemingly contradictory aspects of her identity while advocating for equality.
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Maria Luiza’s legal battle was a lengthy and complicated one. In 2016, a significant ruling by the TRF-1 annulled the decree that had dismissed her from the military, but her situation remained unresolved. She was still denied the opportunity to return to service, and her pension was calculated based on a lower rank than she would have achieved had she not been forced to retire.
Despite these setbacks, Maria Luiza pressed on with her legal fight, arguing that she was entitled to the promotions she would have earned had she not been discharged because of her gender transition. Her lawyers presented compelling evidence that she had a distinguished career and was an accomplished member of the Air Force.
In 2020, a significant development occurred when the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) ruled in favor of Maria Luiza, granting her the right to a pension equivalent to that of a subofficer, her rightful rank. This decision was a triumph not only for Maria Luiza but also for transgender rights in Brazil, as it set a legal precedent for transgender individuals in the military and beyond.
The STJ’s ruling was a landmark moment in Maria Luiza’s battle for justice. It recognized the profound discrimination she had faced and affirmed that a person’s gender identity should not be a barrier to career advancement or benefits. As part of the decision, the court emphasized that Maria Luiza had suffered significant personal and professional harm due to the military’s refusal to recognize her transition.
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In "Maria Luiza", the film also delves deeply into the emotional and psychological toll of being a transgender military member in Brazil. Maria Luiza reflects on the prejudice she faced from her colleagues, especially when she came out as a trans woman. Despite her exemplary service, many of her peers viewed her transition with suspicion, discomfort, or outright hostility. In interviews, she recounts the emotional pain of having to hide her true identity and the fear of rejection she felt when she finally decided to come out.
Yet, despite this adversity, Maria Luiza expresses a deep sense of pride in her military career. She speaks about her love for her work and her pride in having served her country. "I am proud to be a military member," she says in one of her interviews in the documentary. "I feel proud of everything I did within the Brazilian Air Force." Her determination to not be defined by the discrimination she faced is a central theme in the film, offering a poignant message of resilience and self-affirmation.
Maria Luiza's faith also plays a central role in her journey. As a devout Catholic, she wrestled with the tensions between her religious beliefs and her identity as a transgender person. The documentary highlights how she found solace and strength in her faith while advocating for a more inclusive understanding of gender within her community and beyond.
The legacy of Maria Luiza’s story is not just one of personal triumph, but also a testament to the evolving dynamics of LGBTQ+ rights in Brazil, especially within conservative institutions like the military. Through her courage, Maria Luiza has become a symbol of the possibility for change in the Armed Forces and for transgender people everywhere.
The documentary also contributes to the broader conversation about the rights of transgender individuals in Brazil and around the world. It highlights the intersectionality of identity—gender, faith, profession—and the ways in which institutions like the military must evolve to reflect the diversity of the people they serve. Maria Luiza’s story serves as a beacon of hope for other transgender people in Brazil and beyond, demonstrating that even in the face of institutionalized discrimination, it is possible to fight for justice and recognition.
"Maria Luiza" (2019) is a powerful documentary that sheds light on the life and struggles of a trailblazer in the Brazilian military, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by transgender individuals in highly traditional and hierarchical institutions. Through Maria Luiza’s story, director Marcelo Díaz not only highlights her personal journey but also invites viewers to reflect on the broader issues of gender identity, military service, and the fight for equality.
Maria Luiza’s victory in the courts and her unyielding determination to restore her dignity within the Brazilian Air Force is a story of resilience, courage, and justice. The film is not only a tribute to her strength but also an urgent call for broader acceptance and inclusivity, both in the military and in society at large.
Image credits: YouTube
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