Prejudice has become a serious problem for LGBTQ+ students in Cape Verde schools. One of the affected individuals, Edilson da Graça, recounted a traumatic incident where his peers grabbed and dragged him on the floor while at a playground, resulting in multiple bruises and hospitalization while unconscious. This experience significantly impacted his psychological state.
From an early age, in primary school, Edilson began to recognize his 'difference' and became a victim of bullying that continued into middle school. During that period, he had no opportunity to openly discuss family issues; he received main support from several classmates and one teacher, who became a key source of help during anxiety crises.
Edilson noted that not all teachers reacted the same way, and some even showed him dislike. Nevertheless, despite the aggression, he never stopped attending school. At the age of 18, he decided to accept his transgender identity after feeling like he was living a 'secret life.' Today, at 25, he continues to face prejudice but believes he has learned to cope with it differently, turning this bias into strength.
He insists that schools must have clear rules to counteract discrimination, including legislative protection for victims. Edilson emphasized that everyone should live freely, considering it as natural as breathing, and added that changes must also involve families to increase respect for diversity.
Matias Antunes, a 49-year-old gay man, also shared memories of school prejudice. He realized he was 'different' at 13 and was often bullied by boys. One of the most memorable moments was an insult during preparation for a school party when one boy humiliated him for decorating the classroom with other female students.
Matias believes that physical violence affects men more, although he remembers instances where lesbians in his school were also victims. Jailson Barbosa, a 33-year-old homosexual, faced similar problems back in primary school. In high school, he was mocked, especially when he wore clothing that his classmates considered feminine. Once, he was pushed down the stairs, causing his arm to swell severely. He recalls that afterward, the same classmates threatened him, making him afraid to go to school and be attacked.
Jailson filed a complaint with the administration but did not intend to drop out of school, relying on the support of some teachers. He now believes that schools have more information and are better prepared, but advocates for continued work on empathy and respect.
The experiences of Edilson, Jailson, and Matias span different generations but unite them in school as one of the first places where they felt prejudice. Teacher Carla Barbosa acknowledges that discriminatory situations persist, noting a particular trend regarding boys with behavior considered feminine. According to the teacher, part of this behavior is linked to traditional views on gender roles. These norms may also apply to girls who do not conform to traditional expectations of feminine behavior, including young lesbians, although reports of physical violence collected by Lusa mainly concern men.
In this regard, Carla Barbosa argues that education must involve teachers, families, and society, because 'school does not work alone. School is three pillars: family, society, and the educational community itself.'
Sandra Tavares, President of the LGBTQ+ Association in the capital of Cape Verde, reports that the organization regularly receives reports of discrimination in education, including insults, bullying, and attacks, although there is no official statistics. She points out that some cases forced young people to avoid or even leave school. The association also accompanied cases where intervention by the National Police was required after aggression to prevent further attacks, and other cases were directed to psychological support.
Sandra Tavares advocates for a comprehensive approach combining awareness, psychological support, and intervention concerning both victims and aggressors, including implementing a protocol in schools for rapid response to discrimination.
Mariza Carvalho, President of the Cape Verde Institute for Equality and Gender Parity (ICIEG), admits that prejudice against LGBTQ+ people remains 'very noticeable' in Cape Verde schools, although the institute does not keep official records of complaints. ICIEG collects reports mainly during awareness-raising and training events, some of which relate to childhood incidents. The institute collaborates with civil organizations and Spanish partners in training teachers on topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, prejudice, and discrimination. Mariza Carvalho states: 'It is necessary to raise these topics and report cases of discrimination and persecution.'
In July, the Altihay Fuerteventura - Canary Islands LGBTQ+ Collective announced the second phase of school training after Cape Verdean teachers reported prejudice against students. The project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, started in November 2025 and has already covered teachers in the islands of Santo Antão, Sal, São Vicente, Santiago, and Maio. The second phase is planned to expand to other islands starting in October.