Name: Mariana Fernández

Identity: Transvestite

Candidacy: City Councillor

Political party: Future City

List: List 40

Position on the list: 11

Why does a person from a diverse sexual/cultural background have to be in Congress or the Legislature?

It is important that we, as women, reach these spaces so that we can fight for our fundamental rights such as housing, health, and work.

When did you decide to run for office and why?

During the pandemic, there was hunger, and no one helped us. With some trans friends, we started organizing to get food and set up a soup kitchen. We cooked in the street because we had nowhere else to go, and we shared what little we could buy because the government gave us nothing. That's how Ciudad Futura came into our lives. It was the only party that helped us. I met Juan Monteverde (a mayoral candidate), and he offered me a spot on the city council list. Today, I've decided to continue working to defend my fellow trans women.

How do you think hatred can be combated through politics?

To combat hate, we must show ourselves for who we truly are. People have stereotyped us as only good for sex. We have to show people that we are capable of so much more. We never fight hate with hate, but with love. We give love because it's what we need too. Politics helps with this; it allows us to show ourselves as we are and defend our rights.

Did you think of any strategies to respond to the smear campaigns and disinformation against LGBT people in the media?

There are people who speak ill of us, and they're wrong. I had a woman who told us we wanted to live off the state, but we want jobs, we want an opportunity. And I think the strategy to reverse those narratives is to show what happens when we have that opportunity.

How do we prevent a decline in rights?

When I was a girl and people didn't want to lose the rights they had won, they took to the streets. And I think we have to keep doing that. If a right is at risk, we have to take to the streets. There's still a long way to go for us trans women, even though we've gained a lot, like our identity.

What is the first project you are going to present?

If I become a councilwoman, I will work to ensure we have access to housing. Most of my colleagues are homeless. We want to be included in housing assistance programs.

Recommendation

A film, song, book, or cultural experience that politically influenced you?

The Evita movie made a mark on me because I liked seeing how she helped and it prompted me to think about how I can help people.