Back in September, an exhibition called “Queer Museum,” featuring 270 LGBTQ-themed artworks, was abruptly closed after right-wing groups began a crusade to shut it down. Protesters accused the material – which was sexually explicit and gender-bending – of promoting pedophilia and bestiality. This was only the latest in a series of episodes demonstrating that Brazil, contrary to what many foreigners might otherwise believe, is still a conservative country. At least that’s the opinion of André Fischer, a household name in Brazil’s LGBTQ community.
Fischer is the country manager for Hornet, a gay social network app. He is also the head of the MixBrasil Festival, an art show focused entirely on LGBTQ art production that is held in São Paulo between November 15 and 26. He recently sat down with The Brazilian Report to discuss LGBTQ issues in Brazil.
Brazil has the biggest LGBT Pride Parade worldwide. However, according to Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB), we also see the highest number of transsexual murders in the world. Is that paradox controversial?
That contradiction defines Brazil – and it is not confined to LGBTQ issues. Brazil likes to see itself as a liberal country. However, we are actually quite conservative. We live in a nation with a huge wealth gap and various social bubbles. While São Paulo is an LGBTQ-friendly city, that’s not the reality in the countryside, where LGBTQ people are being killed, and these crimes are not investigated. Another contradiction we have in Brazil: same-sex couples were allowed by courts to adopt children far before they were allowed to marry – and that only happened thanks to the Supreme Court.
Congress didn’t do anything about that. Brazil, as you can see, is a difficult country to understand …
After right-wing movements managed to shut down “Queer museum,” other museums around Brazil also decided to restrict LGBTQ-based exhibitions. What is going on?
This conservative wave is a reaction to the visibility acquired by LGBTQ movements over the past few years. It was expected to happen. What surprises me the most is the lack of mobilization to resist these closures from more progressive sectors. Recent political clashes have ignited a kind of cultural war that tries to hamper efforts to support and promote social improvement associated with the rights of minority groups like the LGBTQ community and women. This mindset is ridiculous, and it might be an opportunity for those who don’t want to see their country become reactionary to engage and fight for these rights.
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