Cape Verde School Reforms Target Anti-LGBTI+ Violence
At 25 years old, Edilson da Graça still carries the physical and emotional scars of his education. In one haunting episode from his childhood, two classmates dragged him across the ground at a park slide, leaving him unconscious and hospitalized. His crime? Being transgender.
“It really messed with my psychological state,” Edilson told Lusa. “I still remember it.”
Edilson’s story is far from unique in Cape Verde. Across generations, LGBTI+ individuals describe a school system that has historically functioned as a gauntlet of bullying, ridicule, and physical violence. However, a new wave of institutional training and advocacy is now aiming to dismantle these long-standing prejudices.
A Legacy of Classroom Hostility
For many, the discrimination began in primary school. Matias Antunes, 49, recalls being targeted by other boys as early as age 13 for his perceived differences. Jailson Barbosa, 33, remembers being pushed down a staircase in secondary school because his clothing was deemed too feminine. The fall left him with a severely swollen arm and a lingering fear of returning to class.
“I was once afraid to go to school and be attacked,” Jailson recalls. While he sought help from school administration, the threats continued outside the gates.
Teacher Carla Barbosa notes that while discrimination affects many, boys who display “feminine” behaviors often face the most aggressive backlash. She attributes this to rigid traditional gender roles that dictate how men and women should act. “The school does not function alone,” she says, emphasizing that change requires a “three-pillar” approach involving the family, society, and the educational community.
The Push for Institutional Reform
Sandra Tavares, president of the LGBTI Association in Praia, reports that while official statistics are scarce, the organization regularly handles cases of bullying and assault so severe that students drop out. In some instances, the association has had to involve the National Police to prevent further physical attacks against students.
Tavares is calling for a formal protocol in schools to ensure rapid responses to discrimination, alongside psychological support for both victims and perpetrators.
Marisa Carvalho, president of the Cape Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity (ICIEG), acknowledges that prejudice remains “very present” in the school system. To combat this, the ICIEG is partnering with Spanish organizations to provide specialized training for educators.
Training for a More Inclusive Future
A significant shift is already underway. In July, the Canary Islands-based LGTBI+ collective Altihay Fuerteventura announced the second phase of a comprehensive training program for Cape Verdean teachers. The project, launched in late 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has already reached educators across the islands of Santo Antão, Sal, São Vicente, Santiago, and Maio.
The next phase, set to begin in October, will expand to the remaining islands, focusing on sexual orientation, gender identity, and the tools needed to stop harassment before it escalates into violence.
For survivors like Edilson, these reforms are a matter of fundamental rights. Having come out at 18 to stop living “a life in hiding,” he now views his survival as a source of strength. “Everyone should live freely,” he says. “For me, that is like breathing.”
Image: Pexels – Andrew Patrick Photo
