Brazilian Drag Activists Use Dodgeball to Discuss Homophobia and Transphobia

In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a group of drag activists are fostering a sense of community engagement to address the recent rise in attacks against gay and Trans* people throughout Brazil.
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Credit: Mirela Persichini. Source: Todo DeSeo via Facebook

In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a group of drag activists are fostering a sense of community engagement to address the recent rise in attacks against gay and Trans* people throughout Brazil.

The blog, Quem a HomoTransFobia Matou Hoje (Who Has HomoTransPhobia Killed Today?) has been documenting fatal homphobic and transphobic attacks and poignantly illustrates the daily threat faced by LGBTQ Brazilians.

Following a surge in LGBTQ murders between the years 2007-2012, President Dilma Rousseff had pledged last year to support an initiative to criminalize homophobia and classify attacks motivated by sexual orientation under the same criminal status as racist violence.

However, passage of the bill is now uncertain, partially due to the sudden rise of politicians tied to Evangelical Christian churches.

Belo Horizonte, though, is responding to the stifling crisis in it's own way: drag dodgeball.

The 'Gaymada Interdrag Championship', which takes place in the inland Brazilian city, has already attracted some 2,000 attendees and competing teams have thus far included 'Pokémonas' ('gay Pokemons'), 'TransUrsos' (TransBears) and Góticas Suaves (Soft Goths).

As the third Gaymada event gets underway this week, organizers have put out an open invitation for anyone to come and watch, play and talk about diversity.

A spokesperson at Toda Deseo, a collective of actors and art activists behind the event, who work with a focus on on issues related to Trans* people, explained, "It is a simple way to discuss sexual diversity, homophobia and transphobia."

Indeed the results have been nothing short of a beautiful display of fun and dazzling community spirit, as these vibrant images will show.

Photo credits: Marcos Queiroz and Mirela Persichini.

Gaymada Interdrag Championships

Dodgeball Against Homophobia and Transphobia

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