João W. Nery

João W. Nery (12 February 1950 – 26 October 2018), was a Brazilian writer, psychologist, and LGBT activist. He was the first transgender man to have undergone sex-change surgery in Brazil; Dr. Roberto Farina performed the surgery in 1977.

Biography Born in 1950 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, João was the third of four children. His father was an aviator and his mother was a primary school teacher. The family lived in a large, lively house, but João had a sad childhood, being harassed in the playground and at school. According to his autobiography, he did not understand why he was treated as a girl, nor why he was not encouraged to pursue a profession in the future that was typically male. He became a class representative, but as the country was under dictatorship, the university closed the student union. An exceptional law, Decree number 477, charged João with "attacking national security in the university", which could have removed him from classes for up to five years. A lawyer defended him without charge and managed to obtain his acquittal. He was invited to congresses and symposia and began to study anthropology.

Encouraged by the possibility of surgery, his family opposed it, especially his father. His mother began begging him not to undergo the surgery, saying she would accept a "homosexual daughter, but not one without any identity".

In August 2017 João discovered he had lung cancer. A smoker since the age of 15, he underwent chemotherapy. In September 2018 Nery revealed on social media that the cancer had reached the brain, and he died in Niterói on 26 October 2018 at the age of 68.

Legacy His book Viagem Solitária – Memórias de um Transexual 30 Anos Depois recounts his journey discovering transsexuality, the treatments and the acceptance of friends and family. The book served as inspiration for the character Ivan in the telenovela A Força do Querer, written by Glória Perez and broadcast on TV Globo in 2017.

Nery's trajectory earned him a book in his honor entitled Estudos sobre gênero: identidades, discurso e educação – homenagem a João W. Nery, compiled by university professors Jesus, Carbonieri and Nigro, presenting several trans authors in its chapters and discussing identity and discourse theories in education.

In 2024 the Conselho Federal de Psicologia created the João W. Nery Award: "Práticas de Promoção de Cuidado, Respeito e Dignidade das Pessoas Trans" to recognize and reward psychology professionals who stand out in supporting trans people, promoting inclusion and carrying out work that contributes to building a more just and equal society for the community. It is a way of valuing the work of psychologists who act in accordance with the principles of the CFP and contribute to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for the trans community.

A bill by congressman Jean Wyllys and congresswoman Erika Kokay bears his name. Based on the Argentine Identity and Gender Law, the project guarantees the right to recognize the gender identity of all transgender people in Brazil, without the need for judicial authorization, medical or psychological reports, surgery or hormone treatment.