Isadora Borges: Brazil

Brazilian Veterinary Student Prosecuted for Social Media Posts on Gender Ideology

Topic | Freedom of Speech

Isadora Borges, a Brazilian veterinary student, faced criminal prosecution for social media posts expressing her views on gender ideology. Her case highlights an alarming pattern of censorship in Brazil that polices peaceful expression online.

The prosecution stemmed from comments Isadora shared on social media that criticized gender ideology. Despite the posts being peaceful and not targeted at any particular individual, authorities initiated criminal proceedings, alleging her speech as “transphobic.” Under these charges, Isadora face four to ten years in prison. The first hearing in her case was heard on Feb. 10, 2026.

On March 12, 2026, a regional court unanimously dismissed all charges of “transphobia” against Isadora. In its reasoning, the Court stated that Borges’ X comments did not contain any attack, threat, or hostility towards individuals who identify as “transgender,” nor did they incite violence, lacking the intentional element required in criminal law to sustain a conviction for “transphobia”.

“I commented on the issue because I care about the truth and protecting women. No one should ever fear going to prison for recognizing biological reality. I hope my case can serve as a turning point in the fight against censorship in Brazil. Brazilians deserve the freedom to speak openly without punishment.”

- Isadora Borges

Case Summary

Isadora Borges’ case began in 2020, when she shared comments on X (then Twitter) expressing her views on gender ideology. The comments did not incite violence or target any individual. The posts (translated) read: “We say that trans women aren’t women (because they were obviously born male) and trans activists say that radical feminists aren’t people, aren’t human beings. Imagine believing in a feminism that dehumanizes women?”

A second comment read: “When Simone de Beauvoir wrote the famous phrase in 1949: “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman,” she was not predicting the transgender issue; she was criticizing the fact that our number of X chromosomes and DNA is used in our society as a pretext to make women the second sex and expand gender roles and behaviors. Second-wave feminists fought to subvert these binary gender norms and recast the experience of being a woman not as being different from men, but different from what men think we are. A person who identifies as transgender retains their birth DNA. No surgery, synthetic hormone, or clothing change will change this fact. Recognizing this is not essentialism. What is essentialist is the presumption that sex somehow has a direct connection to gender.”

Prosecutors charged Isadora with two counts of “transphobia” for her comments, with each count carrying a potential prison sentence of 2 to 5 years, adding up to potentially 4 to 10 years.

Her case reflects a broader climate of censorship in Brazil, where expansive interpretations of a 2019 ruling from the Supreme Federal Tribunal are being used to equate peaceful speech about gender ideology with “racism”, often carrying heavy prison sentences. Isadora is one of many in Brazil who has faced legal trouble for her online posts. One such example is Nine Borges (not related to Isadora), a Brazilian influencer who is currently under criminal investigation for posting an allegedly “transphobic” video on Instagram. ADF International is providing legal support to Nine’s case, standing for her right to free speech.

International human rights standards protect the right to freedom of expression, including the right to express opinions that may be controversial or unpopular. Criminalizing Isadora’s speech undermines these protections and sets a dangerous precedent for democratic discourse in Brazil.

“Isadora’s comments are not only protected under international free speech standards, but they are also biological facts, consistent with science. Charging her with “transphobia” and potential prison time is a violation of her right to free expression,” said Julio Pohl, legal counsel for ADF International. “What is happening to Isadora is starting to happen to many others across Brazil. We are standing against this censorship and will continue to do so until the free and peaceful speech of all Brazilians is protected.”

ADF International is providing legal support to Isadora’s case, standing for the right of all Brazilians to freely and peacefully express themselves.