Brazil

Hi everyone! This week we will be exploring the LGBTQ+ community in Brazil!

Before the 1970s, Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship that promoted violence and total government control. LGBTQ+ individuals were seen as immoral and punished as criminals. Being openly homosexual would mean losing your job, being arbitrarily arrested, or abused by police. To hide their identity but be able to remain in contact with other members of the community, the community created secret spaces to socialize while remaining hidden from the public (Making Queer History).

While the military dictatorship was still intact, the members of the transgender community were also considered criminals and were targeted by police. Many transgender women lived in groups on the streets and had to survive by sex work. These women began noticing that their group mates began disappearing, often after being picked up by a client and never returning. The survivors recounted that these “clients” were really police officers in civilian clothing. The police would take the girls to the top of a cliff and throw them off. Most died from the fall, but the ones who survived would be taken into custody and tortured. The girls learned to protect themselves from arrest by cutting their wrists with razors, as the policemen were too afraid of contracting AIDS to get near the open wounds (Making Queer History).

The emergence of the LGBTQ+ community in Brazil began during the 1970s, when the strict military ruled government gave way to a more democratic system. Censorship ended and the first gay newspaper, O Lampião, was published in 1978. In the following few years, many gay activism groups formed, raising more awareness and fighting the stigma that was left behind from the conservative government regime. During the 80s, steady progress was made fighting discrimination throughout the country. In 1985, homosexuality was declassified as a disease, and sexuality-based discrimination was made illegal in 1989 (Queer Voices).

The mid 1990s were a big leap in terms of progress for the acceptance of LGBTQ+ community. The Brazilian Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transexual Association, the most influential group to defend LGBTQ+ rights, was founded. A bill in favor of same-sex civil unions was proposed. Also, the first Brazilian gay pride parade took place in Copacabana (Queer Voices). In 1996, Brazil become one of the first countries to give free HIV medications to those infected (The New York Times).

Throughout the 2000s, same sex couples slowly earned the same rights as heterosexual couples.  They can marry, adopt children, and have all of the same legal rights as straight partners. The transgender community has also been making progress alongside the homosexual community. In 2008, the National Health Service began offering gender reassignment surgeries (Queer Voices).

However, the number of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community began increasing (Queer Voices). In 2008, the president of São Paulo’s Gay Pride Association was brutally beaten by a group of assailants. Since 1980, it has been estimated that only 10% of those who have committed hate crimes against gay and transgender people have been put in jail for their crime.  Additionally, in a 2004 study, 63% of gay and transgender people reported having experienced discrimination. (Human Rights and Human Welfare ). In 2016, Brazil had the highest number of murders of transgender women in the world.  Being transgender still remains a legal psychiatric issue, meaning that transgender people must have a medical professional’s approval before undergoing hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery (Making Queer History). If you are interested in learning more about the transgender community in Brazil, you shpuld check out this article.

Brazil’s new right wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, poses a threat to the progress of the LGBTQ+ community. Immediately after his inauguration, he made numerous executive orders targeting minority groups like the LGBTQ+ community. He prevented any LGBTQ+ issues from being discussed by the human rights ministry and didn’t allow any other federal agency to consider those issues. The newly appointed human rights minister is also very conservative, stating that diversity policies have threatened the Brazilian family. Many gay couples rushed to get married before Bolsonaro took office, in fear that he would limit their rights to get married after he was inaugurated (The Hill). You can read more about the fear and potential harm to the LGBTQ+ community caused by the election of the new president here.

All of that being said, there are still safer areas of the country for people in the LGBTQ+ community to live and for gay and transgender tourists to visit. Rio de Janerio is one of the more gay- friendly cities, with areas neighborhoods within that provide services for gay residents and tourists. Over the past few years, many LGBTQ+ focused initiatives have taken place in Rio to improve tolerance (The Globe Trotter Guys). Some of the beaches in these areas have gay flags flown high and host gay friendly parties (Queer in the World). In fact, Rio has been named the best gay travel destination for two years. You can read more about the other gay-friendly cities in Brazil here. Gay couples often are publicly affectionate with eachother, such as holding hands, kissing on the cheek, and cuddling. There are numerous gay-owned and gay-welcoming hotels for tourists in the area.

Alright folks, that does it for this week!