The Golden Path
Choosing the Barracks
My father is a military police officer, and we always lived near the barracks, where I spent a large part of my time. In 1989, he was transferred to command the Araranguá company, and, since the commander's house was inside the barracks, my closeness to military life — especially the Military Police — only grew.
In 1992, I entered the Military School, completed middle school, and attended all of high school there. This experience reinforced my understanding of discipline and hierarchy, confirming that this was the path I wanted to follow.
Upon graduating high school, I took the entrance exam to become an Air Force pilot. I passed and started the course in Pirassununga in 1996, but being very young and lacking experience, I didn't adapt. I requested my discharge at the end of the year and returned to Santa Catarina.
In 1997, the natural choice was the Military Police Officer Training Course. I passed once again and entered in 1998, where I remained building my career.
Ever since I was a child, I've seen myself as a military officer — it was the career I chose, and I am proud to pursue it. Discipline, a sense of duty, and hierarchy shaped who I am today, and I cannot imagine myself following any other path.
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The Transition: The Golden Path and Family
For as long as I can remember, I carried the feeling that there was something wrong with me. I made up stories to justify my sense of inadequacy, but in adolescence, I lacked references and words to name what I was. Resigned, I ended up accepting that I would never change.
The internal conflict, accumulating over the years, sickened my mind and shook my family. These were turbulent times until I balanced my mood and recovered my sanity. It was through this process, however, that I finally saw myself clearly and understood who I truly was.
My wife was the first to know and my unconditional ally. She didn't just support me emotionally: she actively participated in every step — from my first public appearance as Lumen to taking on situations I couldn't yet face alone. For her, I believe, it was the end of a suffering that, deep down, was also hers.
My children, I am certain, are proud today. They have a mother who knows who she is and fights for her place in the world. Now, I can give them my full attention and be truly present. The shackles, at last, were broken.
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Acceptance and Roots in Santo Amaro
Outside the force, society's reaction was a pleasant surprise — but deep down, expected. My circle of friends has always been progressive, diverse, and open, so the transition didn't cause major disruptions.
Nor did I face prejudice or exclusion in the spaces I frequented. In some groups, I needed to better explain issues like gender identity and what it means to be a trans person or a travesti, but even so, everything flowed naturally.
I have lived in Santo Amaro da Imperatriz since before my transition. My hometown, for which I have immense affection, is predominantly Catholic and conservative — but, defying stereotypes, it is where I feel safe. Like any small town, everyone knows everyone, and they quickly got used to my presence. I never had problems with neighbors or strangers: there were no awkward stares, whispers, or suppressed laughter. Here, I am just one of many.
Jokingly, I often call my transition "The Golden Path" — a peaceful process, free of conflicts. Everything went well, including my relationships with friends and the community. And that, perhaps, is the greatest privilege of all.
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The Santa Catarina Paradox
It is no longer a matter of opinion, but an established fact: Santa Catarina lives under deeply conservative structures. The proof lies in the frequent efforts to preserve the status quo and roll back already established social achievements. The state lives a glaring paradox: while it prides itself on attracting industries and expanding infrastructure, it often maintains an archaic moral stance, out of alignment with humanitarian progress. Economic progress is not enough when mindsets remain stagnant.
It pains me to hear someone declare themselves "proudly conservative." History does not absolve this stance. In Imperial Brazil (19th century), conservatives were the last to defend slavery, claiming that abolition would "destroy the economy." In the 1960s, they resisted civil rights in the US and, here, supported the military dictatorship in the name of "order." In the 2000s, they opposed marriage equality, and today, they fight trans identities and urgent environmental policies. In every era, it was progressives who pushed society forward — even when called "utopian" or "degenerate" by the very same people who, decades later, pretend they were never on the wrong side of history.
I love Santa Catarina — its beaches, mountains, and the warmth of its people. But we cannot normalize the intolerable when institutions insist on repeating the mistakes of the past.