This study was conducted from weekly meetings promoted by the Association of Transvestites and Transgendered of Rio Grande do Sul-Igualdade to know the perception of transvestites on the health care. There was a qualitative research with seven transvestites who attend the meetings organized by the group Igualdade, in Porto Alegre. During the focus group interviews were recorded and later transcribed in order to be analyzed and divided into categories. We highlighted the following categories: "language", "body", "situation of discrimination", "hospitalization", "health services"; "medications", "HIV/aids", "prejudice", "strategies for dealing with the prejudice "and" symbolic violence and physics." From the comments and testimony if realized that it is necessary to qualify the health professionals for the reception and for the care given to the group studied. The social stigma and discrimination marginalise the transvestites and bring consequences quite relevant to public health.
transvestite; public health; HIV/aids; stigma; discrimination