Amazonas deputy copies bill against LGBTQIAPN+ quotas

By Jadson Lima – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – State deputy of Amazonas, Débora Menezes (PL), filed on Tuesday, 8th, Bill 35/2025, which prohibits the reservation of specific vacancies for transgender, travestis, intersex and non-binary candidates in public service exams. According to an investigation by CENARIUM, the proposal presented by the parliamentarian in the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas (Aleam) is identical to that of São Paulo state deputy Lieutenant Coimbra (PL), which was filed the previous Wednesday, 2nd.

In the first article of the proposal, the Amazonas deputy states that it is “prohibited to reserve specific vacancies for transgender, travestis, intersex and non-binary candidates in public service exams held in the State of Amazonas.” Only one term differs from the São Paulo deputy’s bill: “State of São Paulo.” The sole paragraph of the document asserts that “the established prohibition also applies to the quota system provided for admission to the state university within the State of Amazonas.” See excerpts from the proposals:

Lawyer Denise Coelho told the report that Débora Menezes’ proposal is unconstitutional as it directly affronts the principles of human dignity established in the 1988 Constitution. The expert pointed out that the prohibition of actions aimed at historically marginalised groups contradicts the jurisprudence consolidated by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which deals with social promotion of the LGBTQIAPN+ community.

“From a constitutional point of view, the project suffers from material unconstitutionality as it directly violates the principles of human dignity. By prohibiting affirmative actions aimed at historically marginalised groups, such as trans, travestis, intersex and non-binary people, the project disregards the consolidated jurisprudence of the STF, which recognises the legitimacy and necessity of compensatory policies as instruments of promoting social justice,” Coelho highlighted.

In the justification of the proposal, Débora Menezes defends the bill on five fronts: the principle of formal equality, meritocracy, the need for equity and universal policies, avoiding segmentation, and constitutional character. The parliamentarian also mentions that the topic has “ethical, social and legal implications that must be widely debated and analysed in light of legislation, international human rights treaties and the direct impact on society.”

Lawyer Denise Coelho notes that the state deputy’s measure also contravenes international treaties, such as the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR), created in 1969 and which has served as one of the foundations of human rights protection worldwide. Brazil has been a signatory to the treaty since 1992. “[The proposal] collides with international human rights treaties with supralegal or constitutional status in the Brazilian legal system, such as the American Convention on Human Rights,” said the expert.

CENARIUM contacted deputy Débora Menezes, through her press office, to obtain a statement from the parliamentarian on the case. In addition to questions related to the bill, the report also asked the deputy about the identical text to that of São Paulo deputy Lieutenant Coimbra, from the same party. By the time this report was finalised, there had been no response.

Edited by Izaías Godinho
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves