Information for gay, bisexual and transgender men and women living in Brazil, including details of social groups and events
Brazil is home to a prominent and growing gay scene. It has become increasingly recognised as a preferred tourist destination amongst gay people, with São Paulo being one of the main attractions.
The more provincial, rural areas of Brazil tend to be less tolerant of open homosexuality, whilst in certain areas of larger cities it’s easy to find bars, clubs and restaurants run by gay men and women.
LGBT organisations in Brazil
Mix Brasil: A site in Portuguese with information and blogs about music, events and news for the gay community in Brazil. Mix Brazil publishes information about the services available in Brazil’s major urban centres, including tour operators, hotels, restaurants and much more. They also stage a much-revered Brazilian film festival that seeks to celebrate sexual diversity and features short films and feature-length productions from overseas, which always address a pertinent LGBT issue. www.mixbrasil.com.br
ABGLT: The Brazilian Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Transsexual people is a Brazilian organisation that was founded on January 31, 1995, with the mission of “promoting an agenda that guarantees the citizenship and human rights of LGBTs, as part of a progressive democratic society in which no one person is subject to any means of discrimination, coercion or violence as result of their sexual orientation or gender”. It was established by 31 founding groups and represents a national network of more than 300 affiliated organisations, making it the largest organisation of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean.
On July 27, 2009, ABGLT was granted consultative status by The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the six main organs of the United Nations (UN). This recognition allows the entity to work in a consultative capacity with governmental bodies, as well as collaborate with the UN as a technical expert in addressing specific programs and objectives. www.abglt.org
ABRAT GLS: An association dedicated to promoting tourism, leisure and trade for the LGBT community in Brazil. This helps individuals and companies organise trade fairs, conferences, workshops and meetings in Brazil. The entity supports the development of tourism that specifically caters for the LGBT public, promoting business between associates and travellers, both in Brazil and overseas, by showcasing the positive economic and social impact of this population segment. It is conciliatory and business-friendly association that has become a guiding light in the promotion of LGBT tourism in Brazil. www.abtlgbt.com.br
Transerviço: A network designed to connect transsexual and transvestite professionals seeking employment with companies motivated to hire without prejudice. The site was created as an offshoot of the Transempregos project, a website that advertises registered job openings for transsexuals and transvestites.
The site has two main purposes. The first is to connect transsexual or transvestite professionals with open-minded employers. The second objective is to establish a bank of professionals and companies that work with this specific segment, without discrimination or prejudice. www.transervicos.com.br
Same-sex Marriage in Brazil
In May 2011, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage and union should be legally recognised. Same-sex couples in long-standing relationships are entitled to the same rights as married heterosexuals. This stable union (União Estável) can be registered officially or validated by a joint bank account or some other documentation that proves that the couple are cohabiting at the same address.
