June 28, 2022

16:06

Priscilla Peixoto – from Amazon Agency

MANAUS – “I am proud to have overcome the fear of facing prejudice and stereotypes. Of defending human rights and of having the welcome of my family, friends and co-workers”, the phrase of Justice promoter Vitor Fonseca, 43, celebrates the International LGBTQIA+ Pride Day, celebrated this Tuesday, 28. The prosecutor is part of the list of people invited to a series of videos produced by members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Manaus, who, throughout the month of June, made several posts and recordings with testimonials from LGBTs sharing experiences, achievements and the pride that each one carries with them.

In salute to the date that reinforces society’s awareness about the importance of fighting homophobia, of political fights for the community’s civil rights and, mainly, of respecting diversity and being proud of who you are without fear, embarrassment or judgments, the Association of Transvestites, Transsexuals and Transgenders of the State of Amazonas (Assotram) and the page I Live Diversity (@euvivoadiversity) kindly provided AMAZON AGENCY with some of the videos available in the media of the pages that are fully dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ agendas.

The activist and health educator, with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ population, and responsible for the I Live Diversity page, Lucas Brito, 26, believes that the initiative brings the population closer to the community’s agendas, promoting interaction and respect for the specificities of each one.

“It is important that we establish this connection, this special work for pride month are videos of people from different audiences, but that all have this similarity in being an LGBT person, but with their differences, specificities of performance, of life and can bring this on today’s date is a way to emphasize and show how we are diverse and much more than data endorsing sad statistics, we are also conquest, victory, even if we are walking in slow steps, we will not give up”, considers the activist.

Proud to be who you are

Professor of Civil Procedure and human rights researcher, Vitor is a professional who uses his work as a fighting tool in the process of defending the rights of the movement. “I live diversity”, says the promoter.

‘My walk is my pride’

For 44-year-old teacher Angélica Dias, speaking freely about pride month is an achievement. A bisexual woman, Angélica says that participating in the video series produced by the local community has enabled a new experience.

“This is the first time I’m talking openly about being an LGBT person and how proud I am of the journey so far. We know how much we still have ahead of us, especially in a country with a high rate of violence against the community. Having the courage to speak openly is a political act (…) In the month of pride, we are here to contribute to our social and fighting role”, declares the teacher.

‘I’m proud of the advances and conquests’

Doctor of Pharmacy from the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), Marcos Túlio, 32, considers that the greatest pride for the LGBTQIA+ community is the advances of the community amidst so many barriers and prejudice.

Identifying himself as non-binary, Tulio also left his message in celebration of the worldwide commemorated date. “I am proud of our trajectory. If we were able to get here, today, it was because many, many people fought for this. Today, I identify myself as a non-binary person and, if I can speak about it openly, it is because others fought before me”, affirms.

‘Proud of how I see myself in this world’

With the campaign “Be proud of who you are”, Assotram brought testimonials from women and transvestites to share part of their reading about the season that exalts diversity. The trans artist Karla Monamour de Velasques, besides talking about what she is proud of, emphasized points such as respect and empathy.

Karla also shared the upheavals she experienced until she understood herself as a person and her fascination with art as a tool for acceptance and escape. “I am proud to be trans, because being trans is not a disease. Being trans is something very subjective, it is how you see yourself in the world (…) and I wish that people learn to respect us as we deserve to be respected”, wishes the artist.

‘I’m proud that we resist’

For Melissa Castro, a social caregiver, although it is not an easy task, the resistance of the LGBTQIA+ population, especially the T community, in face of the constant attacks suffered, is a reason for pride for the professional, as well as the conquest of relevant spaces in society, even though they are still a small percentage.

“We face daily the denial of our existence and, even so, we are there, strong, conquering many spaces, it is more than a reason to be proud. We are in a class of strong, daring people, who put their faces to the fore to occupy their places, this makes me proud. I hope that other girls who come after us will have their way more open”, celebrates the transsexual.

LGBTQIA+ Pride

The celebration of LGBT pride has its origin in 1969, in Stonewall, in the United States, when there was a rebellion in which lesbians, gays and drags confronted police officers in search of respect and warning against homophobia and transphobia.

In the 1970s, the LGBTQIA+ movement took space and gained strength in Brazil, and struggled to conquer a free society without prejudice related to sexual orientation and gender identity. However, it lost strength in the 1980s, when there was the boom of the HIV virus, causing many victims, placing homosexuals as a risk group and the most vulnerable until then.

Over the years, concepts have changed, but the fight for respect, space and the desire to live safely, especially in a country with high rates of violent deaths of LGBITQIA+ people like Brazil, continues.

In allusion to the LGBTQIA+ month, the AMAZON AGENCY adhered, during the period of June, the ‘icon’ with the colors that represent and celebrate the community. The initiative is part of the company’s guidelines of welcoming, respect, and inclusion, which supports the diversity of gender as well as religious, ethnic, cultural, and other aspects.

Not only in the month in which the International Gay Pride Day is celebrated, but throughout all the months of the year, AMAZON AGENCY, through the Diversity section, works to publish special articles and contents that enable the debate and reflection on issues that address the concerns, struggles and achievements of this segment of the population.