Based on a broad research on lethal violence which affects gays and travestis, and the way such cases are judicially built, this paper aims to highlight some important elements to help understand the social dynamics played when travestis are the victims. The victims' social profile, the distinctive characteristics of the crimes and, most of all, the peculiarities of the police's and the Judiciary's behavior point to the need for investigating colorings and nuances of homophobic violence. The analyzed judicial processes clearly show that color, class and gender relations play an important role in the way such violence occurs, is socially codified and, finally, is punished.
Travestis; Justice; violence; homofobia