The Burgeoning Gay Community in Religious Brazil
On arrival in São Paulo, Brasil, I was surprised by the size of the city’s gay community — especially in a country so widely known for its religiousness. At times, it can feel like an extremely liberal place.
That feeling, however, quickly dissolves when mingling with the religious. I must note: Christianity here is very different from Christianity in the UK, where many accept homosexuality — or at the very least, acknowledge the world is older than 6,000 years.
I’ve been told by otherwise rational, white-collar professionals that evolution is a Western scam designed to brainwash children.
My aunt, God bless her, asked how the human body could possibly be so perfect if not created by God. This inquiry came only a couple weeks after her exploded appendix was surgically removed.
I was lucky enough to attend a church service while in Brazil. The pastor’s message was that with God, our Father, we are no longer orphans. What I found peculiar was the 20-minute detour he took in the middle of that message to scold premarital sex — before returning to the theme of divine fatherhood.
I was invited to a BBQ with members of the church. The gathering included 15 minutes of planned Christian messages. Fifteen minutes isn’t too long, so I agreed.
Anyway — 1 hour and 30 minutes into the Christian messages, we finally ate our now-cold BBQ. I learned that some people really do love the sound of their own voice that day.
The long speeches were filled with testimonies about the great things God has done in people’s lives — mainly curing cancer. I restrained myself from asking who gave them cancer in the first place.
The contrast between conservative Christians and Brazil’s visible queer community is astounding. Walking around Ibirapuera Park, I’ve seen many same-sex couples holding hands and enjoying a picnic. Is this really the same country? I’d ask myself.
Despite Brazil being advanced in many ways — with a growing financial and tech sector, and fast-growing startups — it’s easy to see aspects of the developing world still deeply present.
Someone once told me a story of how a family member had been possessed by a spirit. Someone else swore they saw a man’s head spin all the way around during a séance. Though people believe such things in the West too, here it feels far more commonplace.
Anyway, welcome to Brazil.