December 13, 2021

11:12

Priscilla Peixoto – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – “We were very happy to receive these positive energies with much affection and love. I feel that, in a way, the celebration of our marriage was also an act of resistance”. The statement is from gastrologist Tuane Alves, newlywed to customer service representative Érika Ribeiro, both 29 years old, in a ceremony held last December 4, in Maceió, Alagoas. The wedding, performed by the pastor and theologian Odja Barros, from the Baptist Church, has reverberated on social networks for being one of the first same-sex union celebrations conducted by a Baptist pastor.

With six years of relationship, Tuane and Érica, in an interview to CENARIUM, tell that the feeling of responsibility and satisfaction after living the so dreamed celebration were equalized. According to them, seeing the size of the repercussion for achieving the union in such hostile times, especially for people considered minorities, only made them even happier, for bringing representativeness and encouragement.

“Knowing that something that was made for us, by us and for the sake of our love will serve as encouragement for so many LGBTQIA+ couples brings responsibility, but it is responsibility for something that we have always defended, that we have always disputed this narrative. Especially for us, who came from an aggressive religious context, how our whole story was built and how fundamental it was, for us, this welcoming by a religious community”, reveals Tuane.

Integrated in the youth of the Pinheiro Baptist Church, they talk about the choice of the pastor Odja Barros to conduct the ceremony. Tuane reveals that she was always the first name, since the decision to formalize the union, because they see in her a narrative of a very powerful and relevant woman in social struggles.

“Our admiration for pastorinha (the couple’s affectionate way of referring to the pastor), has been since we had our first contact with her. Since we both decided to get married in a religious ceremony, we couldn’t think of any other name but hers. For us, it would be a reason for great honor and, above all, representativeness. Besides all this, she brings with her the strength of the gospel, and defends, in a very honorable and intelligent way, what she believes to be Christ’s proposal, which is also what we believe”, says the couple.

Pastor Odja Barros

Known for being a feminist pastor and ally to LGTBQIA+ causes, Odja Barros also celebrated the unique moment. It is worth noting that the Baptist designation is known for being, among the existing denominations, one of the most traditional among evangelical churches.

“Joy, honor and privilege to celebrate the love of these two incredible women. True love casts out fear”, said the pastor on social networks, which, among few criticisms, received several comments of support and congratulations for the achievement.

“For more female evangelical pastors, courageous and affirmative like Odja. What a joy to live in this generation alongside people like you”, commented one follower on social media.

In an interview to the UOL website, Odja said she is aware of the constant struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community and the long journey of women in relation to the conquests that come with more difficulty. According to the pastor, the act symbolized, in a way, “new and historic moment in the tradition of Baptist churches in Brazil”.

“I felt a chill in my stomach with emotion, knowing that I was living something that is the fruit of a lot of struggle. As a feminist pastor, I really wanted my first equal marriage celebration to be with two women”, shared the pastor in an interview with the UOL website.

Sharing love

On the social network Instagram, the couple shared the live of the union and called it the most important day of their lives. “Our wedding to share with you who could not be together with us, here is the live of the most important day of our lives. We are here spreading love, because we believe that it has the power to change the world. Appreciate the beauty of the world, appreciate the beauty of diversity”, posted the newlyweds.

“I think we will serve to show the possibility of being LGBTQIA+ and yet not lose the right to have our love legitimized within our beliefs. I hope that this voice echoes, so that other people like me, feel entitled to have the love of Christ respecting the diversity of “BEING,” the couple concludes.

Conquered rights

In May of this year, the ten years since the Federal Supreme Court (STF) unanimously recognized the right of same-sex unions were celebrated. The date, May 5, 2011, became important and, since then, has been celebrated by many homosexual couples.

According to the Association of Notaries and Registrars of Brazil, by May, more than 21,000 homosexual couples had made their stable union official in the country. In Amazonas, for example, in 2019, there were 103 officialized couplings.

From 2011 to last year, in the state, the growth of stable union was 260%. Even with much struggle and the recognition by the STF, in 2011, it was only in May 2013, through Resolution 175, published by the National Council of Justice (CNJ), that homo-affective union became valid in Brazil.

This is because, until then, Brazilian notary offices did not recognize the union as legitimate and claimed the lack of an official regulation. After this regulation, same-sex couples now have the same rights as heterosexual couples.