Her Name Was Gisberta

Gisberta Salce, also known as Gis, was a Trans Woman who immigrated to Portugal in search of a place where she could express her true identity without fear. This powerful 360° Video reenacts her remarkable journey, tragically culminating in one of the most publicized Transphobic attacks in Portuguese history.

Crafted with the intention of shedding light on the dangers of Transphobia, this project employs techniques from social psychology, such as Virtual Reality Perspective Taking-Tasks (Van Loon et al., 2018) and Empathy studies.

By harnessing the potential of VR for social education and intervention against Transphobia, it serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to combat prejudice. Focused on the Brazilian society, which shares Gisberta’s nationality and stands as the unfortunate epicenter of Trans assassinations globally for the 14th year running (ANTRA, 2023), this art activism initiative seeks to unveil Gisberta’s untold story and raise awareness about the imperative to protect Trans individuals worldwide.