Imaginary

Matuzza is a trans woman who was born in Itabira, Minas Gerais, but has lived most of her life in Belo Horizonte. She began her transition at the age of 27, although she identified as a trans person before that. Matuzza was kicked out of her home at the age of 14 and found herself on the streets when she came of age. On the streets, she encountered both violence and shelter, and began working with harm reduction, which prevents the transmission of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis, as well as overdoses, among people in vulnerable situations. She moved to São Paulo to focus on the job market, and when she arrived, she was welcomed by Travas da Sul, a collective of transvestites, and by "É de Lei", where she still works today, as well as being in charge of Casa Chama.