In Brazil, student faces up to 10 years in jail for criticizing gender ideology

Veterinary student Izadora Borges, who faces up to ten years in prison for posts on social media X criticizing gender ideology. Photo: ADF International

On February 11, 2026, a Brazilian woman, Isadora Borges, appeared yesterday before a federal court after being criminally charged for posting comments on social media expressing her views on gender ideology, exposing her to a possible prison sentence of four to ten years, reports human rights organization ADF International.

According to the defense, the criminal prosecution is related to two posts published by Borges in 2020 on what was then Twitter. In the posts, she expressed her opinion about biological sex and claimed that changing gender identity does not alter a person's innate DNA. Her comments quickly gained attention online, and prompted Erika Hilton, a self-described “transgender” politician, to report Borges for “transphobia” to the federal police.

In September 2025, was notified of the criminal charges brought against her. She was accused of two counts of “transphobia,” with each count carrying a punishment of 2–5 years in prison.

Borges’ case sparked online attention after X platform owner Elon Musk, who has previously repeatedly spoken out against censorship on social networks and in defense of free speech, reposted an X post about the case. After this, the situation became widely discussed on the Internet and in foreign media.

At the hearing, the federal prosecutor asked limited questions concerning whether the posts were published on Borges’ own social media profile. The judge indicated that the comments appeared to reflect personal opinions rather than discriminatory intent and granted the defence five days to submit written conclusions, allowing for further consideration of the legal and factual issues before any decision is made.

The trial is taking place against the backdrop of a 2019 decision by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court that equated "homophobia" and "transphobia" with the crime of racism. Since then, investigations into cases related to online statements have intensified in the country, sparking debate about free speech.

Earlier, SPJ wrote that a trans teen shot 9 people in a Canadian school.

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