A Brazilian veterinary student who faces up to 10 years in prison over social media posts about gender identity appeared before a federal court this week, in a case that has intensified debate over censorship in Brazil.
According to a Feb. 11 press release from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, Isadora Borges was criminally charged after posting comments in 2020 on X, then known as Twitter, expressing her views on gender identity. ADF International is the legal advocacy group supporting Borges’ defense. Prosecutors accuse her of two counts of “transphobia,” each carrying a potential sentence of two to five years in prison under Brazil’s legal framework that treats homophobia and “transphobia” as forms of racism.
This is Isadora Borges, a veterinary student in Brazil.
— ADF International (@ADFIntl) February 9, 2026
She is facing up to 10 YEARS in prison.
The reason?
She stated on social media that men cannot become women.
Censorship in Brazil is spreading at an alarming rate.
We are supporting Isadora's case.
🇧🇷 No one… pic.twitter.com/f1FZWDWThg
At a hearing, the federal prosecutor questioned Borges primarily about whether she authored the posts, according to the release. The judge indicated the comments appeared to reflect personal opinion rather than discriminatory intent and granted the defense five days to submit written conclusions before issuing a decision.
“Today’s hearing gave me hope,” Borges said after the proceeding. “I am grateful that the court took the time to listen carefully and consider the facts. I spoke out peacefully on an issue that I care about, and I remain hopeful that the court will recognize my right to express my views and speak the truth without fear of criminal punishment.”
The case stems from two posts Borges published in November 2020. In one, she wrote that “transgender women” “were obviously born male.” In another, she stated that a person who identifies as “transgender” “retains their birth DNA” and that “no surgery, synthetic hormone, or clothing change will change this fact.”
Erika Hilton, a lawmaker who identifies as “transgender,” reported the posts to federal police. Borges was formally notified of the criminal charges in September 2025.
The case has drawn international attention, with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk reposting commentary about the case on X ahead of the hearing, amplifying debate over Brazil’s handling of online speech.
Julio Pohl, legal counsel for ADF International, said the court’s decision to allow additional written submissions signaled careful consideration of the issues.
“While we are still awaiting a final decision, today’s hearing held promising signs that the court will uphold Isadora’s right to free speech,” Pohl said in the release. “Yet, the state of free speech in Brazil is extremely dire, and we are deeply concerned for Isadora and all Brazilians who face threat of criminal sanction for exercising their basic human right to speak freely.”
Brazil’s legal framework on the issue traces to a 2019 decision by the country’s Supreme Federal Tribunal, which ruled that homophobia and “transphobia” should be punished under the country’s anti-racism law until Congress passes specific legislation, according to ADF International. ADF International argues the decision effectively criminalizes certain forms of speech without a statute enacted by lawmakers.
The organization cited similar investigations such as a 2025 case where social media influencer Isabella Cepa faced a criminal probe over posts about gender identity. In another case, Assemblies of God Pastor Douglas Baptista was charged after publishing a book outlining a traditional Christian view of sexuality; those charges were later dropped.
ADF International also is representing five Brazilian legislators in a case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, arguing that escalating state actions — including a temporary ban of X during municipal elections last year — violated their freedom of expression.
No ruling has yet been issued in Borges’ case.