Gay culture in brazil
Sexuality, Culture and Politics: The Journey of Male Homosexuality in Brazilian Anthropology*
Sérgio CarraraI; Júlio Assis SimõesII
IProfessor of the Institute for Social Medicine, State University of Rio de Janeiro/UERJ, E-mail: carrara@ims.uerj.br
IIProfessor of the Department of Anthropology, University of São Paulo/USP and researcher for the Center for Gender Studies/Pagu, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), E-mail: juliosimoes@uol.com.br
Translated by Thaddeus Gregory Blanchette
Translated from Cadernos Pagu, Campinas, n.28 p. 65-99, Jan./June 2007.
ABSTRACT
The present article inquires into the ways in which a presumed Brazilian "managing" of sexual categories or identities (mainly related to male homosexuality) has been conceived of in anthropology since the end of the 1970, sometimes becoming an axis for building and maintaining a national identity characterized as exotic, backward and non-Western. We also trace parallels between two historical moments of reflection regarding the links between sexuality, culture and politics, briefly examining some of the early theoretical and empirical contributions th
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 utmost rates of hostility against LGBTIQ people, particularly against trans individuals. Although there have been legal advances, the enforcement of these protections remains inadequate, and LGBTIQ people tackle significant challenges in ensuring their protection 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 modify their gender markers based on self-determination. In addition, transgender voters have been allowed to register with their gender identity and lived name, even when their official identification documents have not been updated
You look around at the passing people, from elderly women and working mothers to teachers and police, any of them could want you dead. This is the unfortunate truths facing many LGBTQ+ people in Brazil, the world’s most dangerous country for trans and Queer people. With a stark increase in conservatism driving discriminatory legislation and a president that has publicly vilified “gender ideology” and Gay persons, the rights of LGBTQ+ people are threatened by institutions and general support of hateful rhetoric and discriminatory laws.
The political climate fostering LGBTQ+ hate
The current president of Brazil is Jair Bolsonaro, who began his term on January 1, 2019. Bolsonaro is seen as a polarizing figure both within Brazil and by the international community for his disparaging comments against women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. A far-right figure, Bolsonaro claimed in a 2011 interview with Play Boy that he would rather have a dead son than a gay one.
After the election of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s second openly gay congress member Jean Wyllys left their position and fled the country due to the increased level of violence against LGBTQ+ people and the number of
In Brazil, 2.9 million people aged 18 or older call themselves gay or bisexual. The figures can be found in the National Health Survey (PNS): Self-identified Sexual Orientation of the Adult Population, released Wednesday (May 25) by the country's official statistics agency, IBGE. This is the first time information of this kind are collected on the Brazilian population, and is believed to be underreported.
Collected in 2019, the data display that 94.8 percent of the population, 150.8 million people, identify as heterosexual, i. e. they exposure sexual or romantic attraction to people of the opposite sex; 1.2 percent, or 1.8 million, affirm themselves homosexual, which means they are attracted to people of the equal gender; and 0.7 percent, 1.1 million, state they are bisexual, have attraction to more than one gender.
The survey also shows that 1.1 percent of the population, 1.7 million people, said they did not know how to answer the question, and 2.3 percent, or 3.6 million, refused to reply. A minority, 0.1 percent, or 100 thousand, said their orientation should be defined otherwise. According to the IBGE, when asked how, the majority said they identify as pansexual—someone for whom
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 several 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