Ruby Guajajara
29 Sep 2025
Arame, Maranhão (Brazil)
Stabbed
TDoR list ref: tgeu/tdor2025/29-Sep-2025/Ruby Guajajara
Ruby an indigenous trans woman, was found with stab wounds next to a highway in a state where politicians are trying to ban trans women like her from women's bathrooms.
How will Maranhão society respond to the barbaric murder of Rubi, which occurred just a few days ago? She was an Indigenous trans woman.
To seek answers, let us remember: on April 15 of this year, the City Council of São Luís, capital of Maranhão, approved a bill that encourages misinformation, prejudice, hatred and violence against trans women. According to this illegal and absurd proposal, trans women in São Luís would not be able to use women's restrooms. There were occasional reactions from the State Public Defender's Office, members of parliament, and social organizations. Today, this issue—related to a law that encourages crime and barbarity—is hushed up.
It is important to remember this legislative attempt from the capital of Maranhão when we talk about Rubi, the victim of a heinous crime associated with deep structural problems—in this specific case, a transfemicide with clear traces of racism.
Last Monday (29/09), Rubi's body was found on the banks of the MA-006, in the municipality of Arame, 476 km from São Luís. The city has only 25 thousand inhabitants. The young woman was murdered with stab wounds.
The oligarchic media cartel of Maranhão reported the case following the old pattern of turning blood into a commodity. Soon after, a deafening silence set in—an institutional muteness—revealing the state's complicity in violent practices associated with exclusion and discrimination.
On the other hand, Rubi's case provoked deep indignation and repudiation in specific sectors (including outside Maranhão).
There is a need for social pressure to prevent impunity, in addition to the urgent need for more public policies — including educational ones — to combat racism, transphobia, and gender-based violence.
The issue demands visibility. However, judging by the state capital itself, if the status quo in Maranhão is maintained, this will be just another episode incorporated into the old, undesirably naturalized landscape.
The Maranhão government, currently led by agribusinessman Carlos Brandão, needs to be pressured to act with rigor, honesty, and transparency, adopting concrete measures to prevent any possibility of impunity or manipulation of the investigation.
On Tuesday 7th October two men were arrested on suspicion of Rubi's murder.
https://oprogressonet.com/noticia/48582/indigena-trans-e-assassinada-a-facadas-em-arame
https://revistaafirmativa.com.br/indigena-e-vitima-de-transfeminicidio/
