Published on 06/26/2023 at 5:36 PM
June 28 is globally considered International LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Day. To celebrate this date, we have prepared a quick guide with everything you need to know to clear up any doubts about the experiences and existence of this heavily marginalized group in our society.
Why is it celebrated on June 28th?
June 28 was the date chosen internationally to celebrate pride because of the Stonewall Riots. On the same date in 1969, the Stonewall Inn bar in the East Village (New York) was the scene of a conflict between patrons and police officers. It is important to emphasize that at the time, homosexuality was criminalized and members of the community were marginalized. The Stonewall bar was an underground venue that served as a meeting place, a place for recognition, and a sanctuary for queer people. After many instances of police violence and brutality, that night the community said “enough!” and decided to fight back. Ten days of conflict and street demonstrations followed, with many injuries, but no deaths.
From the following year onwards, this date began to be celebrated, commemorating the revolt that had taken place and the message of pride that had been transmitted. In Brazil, the first edition took place on June 28, 1997, and had the participation of about two thousand people. Currently, the NGO Associação da Parada do Orgulho LGBT de São Paulo (APOLGBT-SP) is responsible for organizing the event annually, which takes place during the month of June and features artistic attractions, workshops, and cultural fairs.
In 2023, the São Paulo LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Parade took place on June 11 and had the theme “Social policies for LGBT+ in full and not by half.”.
What does LGBTQIAPN+ mean? Why is the acronym so long?
Each letter of the acronym represents a group belonging to the community. As they are recognized, letters are added to bring visibility to them within this complex spectrum that represents both gender and sexuality. They are:
- L - Lesbians. — Women who are attracted to people of the same gender (female).
- G – Gays. — Men who are attracted to people of the same gender (male).
- B – Bisexuals. — People who are attracted to more than one gender.
- T - Transgender. — People who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. Within this group are transsexual people, who identify with the opposite gender, and travestis, people who experience the female gender, but do not recognize themselves strictly as men or women, as expected by society.
- Q – Queer. — Umbrella category that encompasses anyone who does not feel comfortable in either group and “moves” between genders, often not knowing how to define themselves.
- I – Intersexual — People who present biological characteristics of both sexes. Therefore, this category is linked to anatomical and physiological categories, unlike others that refer to gender identity or sexual orientation.
- A – Asexual Umbrella term that encompasses people with an absence of sexual attraction in some way, whether total, partial, or conditioned on a specific situation.
- P – Pansexuals People who are attracted to others regardless of gender or sex.
- N – Non-binary — People who do not identify with the social gender binary, identifying with genders that deviate from this standard. This includes people whose gender constantly fluctuates and people who do not identify with any existing gender.
- + – Signal to include groups and variations that may not be present or that do not yet have proper visibility. After all, the movement is about adding, not subtracting
Are Drag Queens/Kings Transgender people?
No. Drag Queens and Drag Kings are people who maximize gender-related stereotypes for artistic purposes, as a form of performance. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can be part of these categories.
Gender? Sex? Sexual orientation?
These three terms are very important when understanding the experiences of LGBTQIAPN+ people. Let's understand:
GenderMuch studied and debated, gender is currently recognized as a social phenomenon. It is our experiences, stances, expectations, and how society views us that define our gender. Here, people can, broadly speaking:
- feel comfortable with the gender role and identity assigned to them at birth (cisgender);
- feel comfortable around those of the opposite gender (transgender);
- or do not feel comfortable with either of them (non-binary).
SexSex is biological. Here we are talking about individuals with different types of sex cells, such as eggs and sperm. In this case, they are divided into Male and Female. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is not enough to define a person's gender, which is much more closely tied to identity and social recognition.
Sexual orientation: refers to each person's sexual attraction. In this case, they can be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc.
Note: Gender and sexual orientation do not come bundled together in the same package. A transgender woman who is in a relationship with a cisgender woman is in a homosexual relationship. Just as a transgender man who is in a relationship with a transgender woman is in a heterosexual relationship.
Critical data on the LGBTQIAPN+ community in Brazil
- The life expectancy of transvestites and trans women in Brazil is 35 years (IBGE);
- Reduction or loss of income, food insecurity, homelessness, period poverty, and worsening mental health were the challenges faced by the community in the capital city of São Paulo, with a greater impact observed among trans people (Casa 1);
- According to data from the Pride Survey, conducted by Datafolha in partnership with Havaianas and the international organization All Out, at least 37% of the LGBT+ population have difficulty accessing education, while nearly 40% face prejudice on a daily basis in health care settings;
- 85% of trans people (transvestites and transsexuals) have experienced verbal abuse or threats of violence. Regarding physical violence, 60% of transgender individuals reported having been physically assaulted (followed by 16% of gay men). As for the locations of these assaults, they are concentrated (72%) in public spaces. (APOGLBT);
Bibliography
DE JESUS, J. G. GUIDELINES ON GENDER IDENTITY: CONCEPTS AND TERMS. Apr. 2012.
FACCHINI, R. FRANÇA, I. L., VENTURINI, G.. SEXUALITY, CITIZENSHIP AND HOMOPHOBIA: RESEARCH 10TH SÃO PAULO GLBT PRIDE PARADE – 2006. São Paulo: APOGLBT, 2007. Available at: http://www.paradasp.org.br/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?cid=1&lid=21
GOTARDI, F. M.; DOS SANTOS BASTOS PEREIRA, M. A. M. INCLUSION OF THE TRANS POPULATION IN THE CITY OF SÃO PAULO AND THE TRANSCIDADANIA PROGRAM AS A PUBLIC POLICY TO SUPPORT EMPLOYABILITY. 2021.
LGBTQIAPN+: More Than Just Letters, People. UFSC Diversifica, June 25, 2021. Available at: . Accessed June 21, 2023
We want comprehensive social policies for the LGBT+ community, not half-measures. São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade Association, April 2023. Available at: . Accessed June 21, 2023
