The House Ethics Committee yesterday shelved a disciplinary complaint against pro-Bolsonaro Congressman Nikolas Ferreira, accused of transphobic behavior by left-wing parties.
On March 8, International Women’s Day, Mr. Ferreira donned a blonde wig during a speech on the House floor and claimed he “felt” he was a woman, “Congresswoman Nicole.” He added that the left is trying to “impose” a false reality that robs women of their space in favor of “men who feel like they are women.”
Nikolas Ferreira was the most-voted House member in 2022, with a record 1.4 million votes in his home state of Minas Gerais. The 27-year-old is what some U.S. feminists might call a “TERF.” Originally meaning trans-exclusionary radical feminist, the term has since lost its connection with feminism, denoting merely people who oppose transgender rights or are transphobic.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Ferreira attended a public hearing with Health Minister Nísia Trindade, provoking her by asking whether men can get pregnant or menstruate. The minister replied that she would not comment on “bizarre things.”
São Paulo Congressman Alexandre Leite was rapporteur for the complaint against Mr. Ferreira. He initially presented a report in favor of the complaint being admitted for further discussion, but changed his mind a few minutes into the session. The committee voted 12-5 to shelve the complaint entirely.
Mr. Leite previously served as rapporteur in the Ethics Committee in 2021 for a complaint against former Congresswoman Flordelis, who was charged and later convicted for murdering her husband. He was not so brave with Mr. Ferreira’s case.
The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday also shelved by a 15-4 vote a complaint against far-right Congresswoman Carla Zambelli for swearing at a colleague.
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