{"id":78980,"date":"2024-07-15T12:52:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T15:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=78980"},"modified":"2024-07-24T14:01:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T17:01:59","slug":"in-rio-de-janeiro-conservative-governors-island-holds-its-first-pride-parade-following-decades-of-local-organizing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=78980","title":{"rendered":"In Rio de Janeiro, Conservative \u2018Governor\u2019s Island\u2019 Holds Its First Pride Parade Following Decades of Local Organizing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Performance<\/a>
Performance by drag queen Mariana Crocs at the first LGBT+ Parade on Ilha do Governador. Photo: Amanda Baroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

On a sunny Saturday, June 29, Ilha do Governador<\/a> (Governor’s Island) held its first LGBT+ Pride Parade<\/a>\u00a0at the foot of the Morro do Dend\u00ea<\/a> favela, in Aterro do Cocot\u00e1<\/a>, in the North Zone<\/a> of Rio de Janeiro. The event was organized by the NGO Meeting of Colors<\/a>, which primarily supports LGBT+<\/a> children and youth from the island’s favelas. A historic milestone for the neighborhood, the parade symbolizes resistance and the LGBT+ community’s achievement in carving out a space for itself in a traditionally conservative neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s never been a parade here in our area. Ilha do Governador is an extremely conservative neighborhood, surrounded by military barracks, but there is an LGBT+ population here. So, we wanted to bring this idea, this struggle to our neighborhood, so that people can grasp that we are here, that we exist, that we need to celebrate… to celebrate our lives… to celebrate being alive.\u201d \u2014 Byron Teixeira<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to Byron Teixeira, born and raised in Ilha do Governador’s Itacolomi<\/a> favela, founder of the NGO and creator of the parade, the event aims to establish a safe space of pride and belonging for the LGBT+ community of Ilha do Governador and surrounding neighborhoods in the Leopoldina region<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meeting of Colors was founded in 2018<\/a>, following an incident of homophobia<\/a> experienced by Teixeira while still part of his church community. In response, he and other LGBT+ youth began organizing discussion groups on Ilha do Governador. Their goal was to create a space for dialogue and mutual support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was going through a moment of deep depression, I sought out someone who I thought was a leader to me at the time. Instead of receiving support, I was told, ‘this is not your place if this is how it’s going to be.’ So, I founded Meeting of the Colors with the aim of creating a space of support for people who have gone through or are going through experiences similar to mine.\u201d \u2014 Byron Teixeira<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Byron<\/a>
Byron Teixeira introduces the first Ilha do Governador Pride Parade. Photo: Amanda Baroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The singer, community health agent<\/a>, and volunteer Juliana Macedo explains that Meeting of the Colors serves two main groups: the local community of Ilha do Governador and LGBTQIAPN+ individuals seeking support. She believes that the NGO’s uniqueness lies in combining social assistance with raising awareness of LGBTQIAPN+phobia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe educational work we do with children, for example, always includes a performance by a drag queen. The idea is precisely to break the paradigm and prejudice, to have an active voice, and to be present in the community for everyone. We’re also agents of change; we’re not just gay or lesbian. It’s about doing away with the stereotype that it’s only one thing, that it’s all debauchery. We want to do meaningful work for the community as a whole.\u201d \u2014 Juliana Macedo<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Uma publica\u00e7\u00e3o compartilhada por Encontro Das Cores 🏳️‍🌈 (@encontrodascoresong)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n