CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMOPHOBIA/TRANSPHOBIA AND STRUCTURAL RACISM
NOTES FOR A MATERIALISTIC CRITICISM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21680/2318-0277.2019v7n02ID18661Keywords:
Criminalization of homophobia and transphobia, Materialistic analysis of law, Penal system, Structural racismAbstract
This article seeks to build a critical reflection on the use of criminal response as a tool to satisfy democratic demands, taking as its starting point the decision of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court in ADO No. 26, which equated homophobic and transphobic conduct with racist crimes. The theoretical references used come from the sociology of law and the materialistic approach of the penal system. After a brief dogmatic introduction, a synthesis of the functioning of the penal system in a class society is presented, questioning the viability of its use in the fight against structural oppression. After considering the contributions of the materialistic perspective about the state, law and racism, it is concluded that the use of markedly oppressive tools, such as the penal system, to satisfy democratic demands is mistaken.