A Flashing Neon Sign: Anti-Trans Violence as a Barometer for State Terror in Latin America

Trans people are most visible in the historical record during periods of state-sponsored violence, especially when the state attempts to enforce rigid gender roles. Efforts to enforce public morality, police sexuality, and promote Christian family values often end up targeting trans people. These conservative social policies were frequently a tool of right-wing dictatorships that claimed to be saving the nation from communism and other forms of deviancy. Therefore, in a Latin American context, trans and gender non-conforming individuals are particularly present in the historical record during dictatorships. Examining historical evidence of trans people during dictatorships can help us understand what dictatorships saw as threats or wanted to police. This talk will examine how the state sought to police gender during Cold War-era dictatorships and the way activists have shaped the legal systems of Argentina and Chile in response.