# Transphobia legal proceedings in Brazilian universities

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/transphobia-legal-proceedings-in-brazilian-universities
> Updated: 2026-08-12T14:25:00.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

A federal court in Brazil sentenced Adripaulo Barros, an administrative director at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), to one year in prison for transphobia. The conviction relates to a 2022 incident where Barros requested documentation from a transgender student, Odara Moraes, to justify her use of a women’s restroom. 

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) initiated the legal action and has indicated it will not appeal the sentence, which allows the defendant to remain free while serving the term. A cleaning staff member involved in the incident was acquitted.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: University director sentenced for transphobia in Brazil

A Brazilian federal court sentenced a university director to one year in prison for transphobia following a 2022 dispute regarding a transgender student's access to a women's restroom.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/university-director-sentenced-for-transphobia-in-brazil

### 2026-07-16: Brazilian Court Overturns UFSC Doctoral Research Suspension

A Santa Catarina court lifted the suspension of a UFSC doctoral research project, finding the university’s handling of transphobia accusations violated the scholar’s right to defense.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-court-overturns-ufsc-doctoral-research-suspension

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Cite as: Transphobia legal proceedings in Brazilian universities. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/transphobia-legal-proceedings-in-brazilian-universities