Brazil lgbtq safety
Brazil’s LGBTQ community faces surging violence, but they’re fighting back
Published in Open Democracy
By Robert Muggah and Pedro Augusto P. Francisto
Discrimination and violence against Brazil’s LGBTQ communities are widespread, yet often underreported. Consider the case of Julio Haag, a juvenile school teacher, struck by a stone on his way home from instruction some years ago. His attacker claimed that Julio, who is gay, was looking at him suggestively. Years later, Julio considered running for the metropolis council in Sarapiranga, a small municipality in Rio Grande do Sul. He withdrew his candidacy when his social media profiles were flooded with homophobic hate mail and threats. He worried that the next message coming his way could be a bullet.
In Brazil, LGBTQ people are disproportionately harassed and victimized precisely because of who they are. One reason is the immersive strain of social conservatism in Brazilian society. Another is that Brazil is extremely violent: the region has the highest absolute number of homicides in the world, including many that are a fallout of hate crimes. Over 150 transgender people alone were killed in Brazil as of September 2020.
Brazil is the largest and most populated country in South America and Brazilians are well known to be friendly to foreigners, welcoming them as if they were their friends. Brazil is a paradise for visitors since the country has such a diverse offering. Incredible beaches, jungle, cold weather in the hills, adventure, desert landscapes and mega cities are just a not many of the things awaiting visitors to Brazil. Even traveling from the south to the north is a different experience due to the unique cultures found in a region of its size. In fact, this diversity can even be a identity shock for Brazilians themselves traveling their own country. When it comes to conclusion LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in Brazil, the options are quite varied, but they are mainly located along the east coast and in major capitals, even inland. Today Amazonas and Pantanal bring Adventure and Sustainability destinations. In the South of Brazil, Canyons are the new attraction for our LGBTQ+ tourists.
Diversity is a highlight in Brazil and with its size and different cultures, LGBTQ+ acceptance can vary from region to region. There are, however, plenty of different places for the LGBTQ+ community to explo
Brazil
In Brazil, the human rights of LGBTIQ people have seen significant advances, but the situation remains complex and, in some cases, troubling. Marriage equality has been legal since 2013, when the right was recognized by the Supreme Court. However, there are efforts in Congress to repeal it, driven by lawmakers linked to anti-gender and anti-democratic groups.
Despite laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Brazil continues to have one of the extreme rates of aggression against LGBTIQ people, particularly against trans person individuals. Although there have been legal advances, the enforcement of these protections remains inadequate, and LGBTIQ people confront significant challenges in ensuring their shelter and rights on a daily basis.
LGBTIQ persons actively participate in politics, with over 3,000 openly LGBTQ candidates running for office in the 2024 municipal elections. Trans people can legally adjust their gender markers based on self-determination. In addition, transsexual voters have been allowed to register with their gender identity and lived name, even when their official identification documents have not been updated
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A rainbow flag sweeps across São Paulo's architectural landmarks, wrapping the Avenida Paulista in the colors of queer and trans self-acceptance. Photo by Lola Mahdhaoui Silva, used with permission.
On May 17, Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Common Safety approved a measure to ease refugee requests for LGBTQ+ people, coming from countries where their sexual orientation or gender identity could lead to life in prison or the death penalty.
The recent protocol, discussed via the National Committee for Refugees (Conare), was approved one day after the International Day to Fight Homophobia.
According to a note published on the ministry's control website, the measure seeks to create possibilities for integrating migrants into Brazilian society, and also stresses the country's historical position defending the LGBTQ+ population nationally and internationally.
Brazil has led rankings of force against trans people for years, and registered 273 killings of LGBTQ+ people in 2022, according to a report by the Observatory of Deaths and Violence against LGBTI+ in Brazil. Still, even though far from being a perfect haven, it's a country where LGBTQ+ individuals have their rights a