Pastor Douglas Baptista: Brazil
Pastor Criminally Charged for “Transphobia” After Publishing Christian Book on Gender
- Who: Pastor Douglas Baptista
- Where: Brazil
- Advocacy Team: Julio Pohl
Topic | Freedom of Speech
Pastor Douglas Baptista, a prominent Christian pastor in Brazil, was criminally charged with “transphobia” for publishing a book about gender and sexuality from a Christian teaching perspective. With legal support from ADF International, the charges against him were dismissed and the case closed, marking a clear victory for freedom of speech in Brazil during an era where censorship is on the rise and “transphobia” is considered a crime under the law.
“This case is a crucial victory for freedom of speech and freedom of religion in Brazil. No pastor or faith leader should face criminal prosecution for teaching Biblical truth to their congregations. The dismissal of charges against Pastor Douglas affirms that the law cannot be misused to silence religious voices,” said Julio Pohl, Legal Counsel for ADF International.
“This case is a crucial victory for freedom of speech and freedom of religion in Brazil. No pastor or faith leader should face criminal prosecution for teaching Biblical truth to their congregations. The dismissal of charges against Pastor Douglas affirms that the law cannot be misused to silence religious voices.”
Case Summary
Pastor Douglas Baptista is President of the Education Council of the Assemblies of God, Brazil’s largest evangelical denomination, representing close to 25 million believers. He is also a professor and author of Christian educational resources.
In 2023, Pastor Douglas authored The Church of Christ and the Evil Empire: How to Live in This World Dominated by the Spirit of Babylon, a philosophical and theological account on gender and sexuality from a Christian perspective. In September 2023, Brazilian federal deputy (National Congress), Érica Hilton, a male who identifies as a “transgender” woman, filed a complaint before the police requesting the book to be banned, and the author, Pastor Douglas, to be criminally charged with “transphobia.” Authorities opened a criminal investigation in June 2024 against Pastor Douglas, on the grounds that the book was a form of “transphobia,” which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
With the support of ADF International, in February 2025, all charges against Pastor Douglas Baptista were dropped, and the case was formally closed.
In the decision to drop the charges, the Federal Prosecutor stated that in his book, Pastor Douglas “expressed his thoughts in a non-criminal manner, even if in a way or with content that is uncomfortable and disagreeable to social movements such as LGBT+. Thus, despite the natural aversion that these positions may generate among non-Christians, they lack criminal elements and are covered by the right to freedom of expression, thought, and religion.”
Growing Pattern of Censorship in Brazil
Since a 2019 ruling by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal equated “homophobia” and “transphobia” with the crime of racism—without legislation passed by Congress—individuals across Brazil have increasingly faced criminal investigations and prosecutions for peaceful expression. Cases such as Pastor Douglas’ have become more common over the last year in Brazil.
In 2025, social media influencer Isabella Cepa faced criminal investigations for her online post about gender ideology. Similarly, researcher and influencer Nine Borges is under criminal investigation for “transphobia” for posting an Instagram video drawing attention to concerns about the financing and influence of pro-LGBT organisations in Brazil, which included criticism of Symmy Larrat, Brazil’s LGBT National Secretary.
In another case ,veterinary student Isadora Borges (not related to Nine Borges) faces up to 10 years in prison for charges of transphobia after a comment she posted stating that men cannot become women. Her case is legally supported by ADF International.
ADF International also represents five Brazilian legislators (Senator Eduardo Girao and members of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Van Hattem, Adriana Ventura, Gilson Marques, and Ricardo Salles) before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The legislators are challenging violations of their free speech rights before the Commission. They claim violations of their rights under the Convention, including their freedom of expression, as a result of escalating state censorship which reached a head with the 2024 X ban in Brazil during the municipal elections period. Censorship in Brazil has been a persistent and escalating problem since 2019.
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