At the organization’s headquarters in house1 the afternoon buzz begins to rise. Loud music on the first floor signals that the senior dance class is about to start, while a band upstairs prepares for makeup and aesthetics workshops. These are among the activities and programs offered by the organization located in the Bixiga neighborhood of Sao Paulo. Since its inception in 2017, it has opened its doors to people facing discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Centers like this act as a counterweight to the president’s homophobic rhetoric since Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2018. His campaign rhetoric repeatedly defended traditional family and Christian values and opposed what he called gender ideology. With more than 156 million voters facing the polls this Sunday, the outcome could reaffirm the current leader, whose first round rival Lula da Silva received 36 percent of the vote against 50 percent for Bolsonaro. Note: figures reflect polling and partial results.
neighborhood job
In Casa 1, the chief of communications and culture sits beside a large mural of a woman bearing the phrase in Portuguese, trans, indigenous and black lives matter. Thai Eloy explains that the organization has continued to grow since the far right political shift. Public relations have shifted significantly in recent years, with many people who were not directly involved in the project stepping forward to offer support. A new local engagement has emerged beyond the LGBT+ community. Eloy adds that since Bolsonaro’s presidency, involvement with the organization has deepened.
The neighborly approach is visible in the library nearby, where the association rests two blocks away and provides books on LGBT+ themes and other materials about social minorities. Volunteer Elisa Mafra notes that even if some locals were unfamiliar with Casa 1 at first, the center has gained popularity among children and adolescents who embrace gender diversity. A student spotted the LGBT+ tag and asked to read such material, recognizing it as more than adult content. The library supplies school materials for younger readers, a factor that has encouraged some parents to rethink their views and value the organization’s work.
fight against discrimination
Today the center hosts ten people and offers free psychological care, clinical services and vocational training to help those in need, many of them transgender, secure employment. Social worker Magdalena Rising emphasizes that the shelter serves young adults between eighteen and twenty-five who have completed an initial interview with a psychologist and are guaranteed four months of housing. The center assists individuals who have faced violence from family members or intimate partners, noting that each case is unique and varies with each situation. The experiences of a white gay person may differ from those of a transgender person or someone who is racialized.
Those steering the organization have faced hundreds of threats and insults over the years, particularly during Bolsonaro’s time in office. They acknowledge that discrimination against the LGBT+ community comes from distant corners, including social networks. Transgender Europe (TGEU) reports that more than 30 percent of trans murders in 2021 occurred in Brazil. A country with a long history of social and political tension continues to see discrimination persist, even as Lula da Silva and Bolsonaro engage in a political contest this Sunday about policies to address these issues. The path forward will be shaped by the choices voters make at the polls and by ongoing community efforts to promote inclusion and safety for all gender identities.