A Brazilian parent and child who were once known as mother and daughter are now living as father and son after both undergoing gender transitions.
The pair have shared their personal experiences with more than 24,000 followers on Instagram, offering insight into their journey and the support they received through Brazil’s public healthcare system.
Raphael, 38, and his 10-year-old son Gustavo were both assigned female at birth. Today, however, they identify as male and have embraced their new lives together.
Reports indicate that Gustavo began expressing his male identity at a very young age, starting his transition journey around the age of four. Raphael later began his own transition and publicly stopped identifying as female last year.
Thanks to medical services available through Brazil’s healthcare network, both were able to access gender-affirming care without cost in São Paulo. Raphael received treatment at Campo Limpo Municipal Hospital, while Gustavo, as a minor, was supported by specialists at the Institute of Psychiatry’s Transdisciplinary Outpatient Clinic for Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, along with the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit.
Because their transitions occurred within the same family, some observers have questioned whether one influenced the other’s decision. Raphael has strongly rejected that idea, explaining that each of them followed their own path.
According to Raphael, Gustavo’s confidence and determination helped inspire him to move forward with his own transition, but he insists the decision was deeply personal.
“He didn’t influence my choice,” Raphael explained. “What he did give me was the strength and courage I needed to face my own journey.”
For Gustavo, adapting to the family’s new dynamic was surprisingly straightforward.
“It wasn’t hard for me to start calling my mother ‘dad,’” he said.
The father-and-son pair have also spoken openly about the challenges they still face, particularly when people continue to use the names they had before transitioning. They say that despite legal and social recognition, respect for their chosen names is not always guaranteed in everyday life.
In one Instagram post, they addressed the issue directly, noting that while individuals have the right to have their social names recognized, that respect is often not consistently shown in practice.
Since transitioning, Raphael and Gustavo have attended several events celebrating transgender visibility and inclusion. They have described these gatherings as meaningful experiences that provided support, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.
Reflecting on one such event, Raphael shared his gratitude for the people he met there, saying the atmosphere was filled with encouragement and hope. He also recalled the emotional impact of hearing others call him by his chosen name, describing it as one of the happiest moments of his life.
