The process of autonomy is the quest for many transgender women who live in support houses such as Florescer in São Paulo. With housing support, food, and social projects that enable possibilities of re-socialization, these women plan their future and uncertain dreams.
My goal since 2020 has been to document the lives of some of the women living in this house and who previously lived there in order to understand how the social context in which they are inserted can contribute to the state of vulnerability that many of them suffer from as well as the possibilities and difficulties they can experience during the process of becoming autonomous and economically independent. Paloma is the name of one of these women who told their stories about violence, prostitution, helplessness, imprisonment, dreams and courage.
Brazil continues to top the list of countries that have murdered the most trans people worldwide. Even when surviving is possible, transsexual women face challenges in the social and economic context which makes it impossible to exist in a dignified or fair manner. These women encounter challenges related to health, housing, food, and social relationships during the autonomy process.
In documenting transsexual women’s daily lives and their search for autonomy, we hear about family helplessness, prejudice and lack of access, all of which keep recurring. It is a document about the urgency of changes tied to the strength and courage of these women (re)existing.

Dan Agostini are a documentary photographer and visual storyteller based in Brazil, graduated in photography with a specialization in contemporary art from Senac/SP.
In their work, photography is used mainly as a tool for reflection to construction of narratives related to gender issues and human rights in regions of Latin America. Currently they develop documentary projects, collaborate with national and international media outlets such as National Geographic, The Washington Post, Insider, among others.
Dan are a member of Women Photograph, Diversify Photo and Mídia NINJA, co-founder of the Doroteia and Chama Sapatão collectives.
Dan have received awards such as Poylatam and This is gender – 50/50 Global health, has participated in exhibitions in Brazil and abroad and have had their work financed by public and private organizations such as Funarte, National Geographic, Lucie Foundation and Vist Projects.