Brazil IDAHO Report 2013

As in previous years, the strength and diversity of actions in Brazil was exceptional. Well over 100 actions were reported in total, making Brazil one of just two countries with 100+ events (the other was the UK). Events for May 17 were registered in all of Brazil’s 27 states. Highlights of the years commemorations include MTV Brazil’s shifting its entire schedule out, to dedicate all programming on May 17 to the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia. Hundreds of activists marched on the National Congress in Brasília, and staged a rainbow coloured Die-in in front of the main Congressional building.

Local activists reported that, aside from the continued growth of the May 17 mobilisations, year on year, a key issue prompting a response on such a scale was the recent controversial appointment of far-right Evangelical pastor Marco Feliciano to the head of Brazil’s Human Rights Commission. His appointment, in March 2013, has been greeted with outrage by LGBT activists and other civil society groups, and May 17 offered the first opportunity to mobilise on a nationwide scale.
Whilst setbacks also continue to characterise the state of play for LGBT rights in contemporary Brazil at the national level, activists also had particular reason to celebrate this year: On May 14, 2013 same sex marriage was fully legalised in the country. Same sex couples may now have their partnerships recognised at local registry offices, rather than (an uncertain path through) through the courts.
Below is, inevitably, a mere snapshot of the total actions in Brazil this year, in general split by state. A full list of 117 events, as of April 17, 2013, can be found (in Portuguese) at: the Fora do Armário blog. Special thanks, for national co-ordination of event reporting, go to Toni Reis and Sergio Viula c/o Brazil’s national articulation group ABGLT (Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas, Bissexuais, Transsexuais, Travestis e pessoas Trans).

Nationwide

The Brazilian League of Lesbians (LBL, Liga Brasileira de Lésbicas), coordinated a nationwide action called ‘Meu Sangue pela Igualdade’ (My Blood for Equality), to protest policies which prohibit LGBT people from donating blood. Joint actions occurred in various states, including Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte and Piauí. For more info please see: www.lblrs.blogspot.com // www.lblsaudelesbica.blogspot.com

Bahia

Various towns and cities. More than 50 organisations joined forces to produce a month of events, across the state, for Bahia’s ‘May of LGBT Diversity’. Highlights included workshops, queer performances, LGBT parades, and the 1st Conference of Lesbian and Bisexual Women of the State of Bahia. The exhibition ‘Out Feliciano’ ran in Salvador, from May 3. Three different towns and cities in the state (Pojuca, Salvador and Vitória da Conquista) held events on May 17, including a special session on combating homophobia, hosted by the Bahian State Congress in Salvador.

Distrito Federal

Brasilia. ABGLT and partners marked IDAHO 2013 with a National March Against Homophobia, to the Brazilian Congress, on May 15, which also connected to the Global Rainbow Flashmob. Hundreds of people attended. ABGLT and partners also organised seminars on the Secular State (May 13) and Laws against Homophobia (May 14). For more information please see www.abglt.com.br

Images from the March on Brasilia – May 14, 2013. The placard (bottom) reads ‘You’re disgusted with seeing a same sex couple kissing. I’m disgusted with people deceiving us’.

Mato Grosso do Sul

Campo Grande. ‘Conference on Sexual Diversity and the Criminalisation of Homo/Trans/Lesbophobia’. (May 23 – 24, 2013) Various academics came together to promote debate on the secular state, human rights, and gender/sexuality theory in the current context of Marco Feliciano’s appointment to the CDHM. The conference was hosted by LEVS/UFMS (Laboratório de Estudos de Violência e Sexualidade). For more info see: http://diversidadesexualufms.blogspot.com.br/

Photos from the conference in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (May 23 -24). Source.

Minas Gerais

Montes Claros. 10th Homoculture Show and 5th Conference: ‘Sertão Without Homophobia: Constructing Citizenship’. (May 13 – 17, 2013). Highlights included workshops, roundtables, debates, academic presentations, mini-courses, exhibitions, cultural fair and cinema. The show and conference was organised by Núcleo de Estudos Sobre Homocultura (Nehom), State University of Montes Claros. For more info please see: http://www.nehom.unimontes.br

Para

Belem. On May 17th, two groups (Rede Ex Aequo and Grupo Ellos) joined forces to hold a ’free hug’ event where, of course, they gave out free hugs, together with information about what May 17 means. They also received contributions for a photo project – demonstrating people’s opposition to homophobia, transphobia and biphobia – which was presented for IDAHO 2013.

Pernambuco

Recife. May Against Homophobia. The programme in Recife included a press conference + launch event (May 8); Meeting for LGBT families (May 9); Workshop and hip-hop street art in schools event – all with the theme of combating homophobia (May 17); Opening ceremony of the Instituto José Ricardo (May 21).

Rio de Janeiro

Campos dos Goytacazes. Events in the cidade marvilhosa (marvellous city!) included a film showing of the documentary Janaína: A Dama de Ferro” about the first travesti who became a lawyer in Brazil. The filmmaker, Vagner de Almeida, also attended and answered questions about the documentary (May 17, 20:00). Commemorations also included a book launch of Um Buquê Improvisado by Roberto Muniz Dias. Events were hosted at: Casa do Advogado, Praça Barão da Lagoa Dourada.

Rio Grande do Sul

The state saw another collective action in favor of the Secular State. Again, this was linked to the recent wave of protests against the appointment of Marco Feliciano to the head of Brazil’s Human Rights Commission. Various LGBT groups took part including SOMOS, NUANCES, IGUALDADE-RS, LBL, CRIOLOS and LBL and the Fórum Gaúch em Defesa das Liberades Laicas (which brings together more than 50 organisations from various social movements). For more info please see: www.lblrs.blogspot.com // www.lblsaudelesbica.blogspot.com

São Paulo

Santos. The city of Santos, like others in Brazil recognises May 17 as the Municipal Day of Combating Homophobia. OAB, IBDFAM and the City Council of Santos came together for a panel discussion about anti-homophobia laws and the possibility of creating a new government LGBT Commission in the city. There was also a public hearing in the municipal Congress on the ‘Secular State and Sexual Diversity’.