MPF goes to court to demand that the Union take measures against bullying against LGBT people in schools

The Federal Public Ministry of Acre took action in Federal Court to force the Union to take effective measures to combat and prevent bullying against LGBT+ students.

The action, brought by the regional attorney for Citizens' Rights Lucas Costa Almeida Dias, points to an omission by the federal government in the face of a scenario that it classifies as “pandemic” in schools.

Dias asks the Court to order the Union to pay 5 million reais, an amount to be allocated to educational and informative projects about the LGBT+ community, as well as to the creation of campaigns to eradicate LGBTphobic violence in schools.

The Union must also, according to the MPF, produce bimonthly reports on bullying incidents and create a working group within 120 days to deliberate on new guidelines on the topic.

According to data produced by UNESCO, cases of bullying are present in 100% of schools in Brazil, which makes the country occupy fourth position in a global ranking.

A survey conducted by the National LGBTI+ Alliance between August 2024 and January 2025 reveals that 86% of LGBTI+ students feel unsafe at school . The rate rises to 93% when considering responses from trans students only.

Furthermore, 90% of the students interviewed suffered verbal attacks of an LGBTphobic nature. Of these, 34% were also victims of physical violence.

For Dias, the repercussions of this scenario can impact even adult life and cause a series of negative consequences for health, such as alcohol and substance abuse, eating disorders and social obstacles.

The lawsuit argues that the Union has been negligent in its constitutional duty to combat discrimination against LGBT+ students. Since 2015, there has been a Program to Combat Systematic Intimidation, but, according to the MPF, there is no information on the program's compliance, nor specific lines of action for LGBT+ people.

There has not yet been a ruling from the Court regarding the Public Prosecutor's Office's demand.