On Thursday (5), the Federal Supreme Court unanimously approved the extension of the validity of stable unions for same-sex couples. Here on the A Capa website, we provided real-time coverage via Twitter. The buzz was very strong and internet users, most of whom were certainly LGBT, placed the hashtag #uniaohomoafetiva in first place in Trends Topics (Twitter audience) in first place and among the three most talked about topics in international TT's.
The impression one had is that, from the moment Gilmar “Dantas” Mendes declared his vote in favor of same-sex unions and then his approval was already certain, Avenida Paulista (SP) would be taken over, in part, of course, by people in the gay community. However, the error already started with an internet group that called for a demonstration or celebration for Friday (6), that is, one day after the victory considered historic even for heterosexuals and the media, which is largely heteronormative.
What's the point of celebrating something a day after the fact? By any chance, did football fans celebrate a football title after a victory day? Of course not, this doesn't make any sense, because it is at the time and in the heat of the moment that something is celebrated, even more so with the factual and symbolic importance that the STF's unanimous decision has. But what we saw in the events on Thursday and Friday was something melancholy and embarrassing.
On Thursday (5) a reporter from TV Brasil who was in Paulista to cover the celebration for an hour asked, or rather, commented, “wow, but that’s all about people? I thought you were going to take to the streets.” Well, we didn't take it, better yet, they didn't take it, because the person writing to you and about 99 other people went to Avenida Paulista to celebrate. However, more than celebrating the approval of the recognition of stable same-sex unions, people were there because it was a first legalistic recognition of the LGBT community, which until then lived on the margins of the so-called “legal” society and did not have a single right.
Beeshas don't celebrate. They don't celebrate because the majority thinks talking about politics is boring, but they love to complain that they don't have rights and when rights are approved they aren't able to celebrate. And, even more so on this occasion, where almost equal rights were achieved. Unfortunately, the level of depoliticization among gay women (among everyone) is very high. Will gay women follow more now? I don't believe. If that were the case, at least 10 people would have attended Paulista.
Personally speaking, the emptiness found on Avenida Paulista was embarrassing, which, in addition to being a place with a strong gay presence, has been the scene of homophobic demonstrations. Personally, I have no intention of getting married or establishing a stable relationship, at least at this moment, but I went to celebrate, because I understood that this is a recognition of a part of society, it is an advance in democracy... In one fell swoop the Brazil left behind countries like France, which people love to cite as an example of a democratic and civilizing society.
Brazil has advanced in its legalistic democracy, now it is necessary for gay women to also advance when it comes to the world, aka Brazil, and their place in it. You don't need to become an activist to know what your rights and duties are. The internet is there for that. The impression one had/has is that heterosexual people were more satisfied than homosexual people. Sad irony.
If on Thursday (5) 100 people went to Avenida Paulista to celebrate their legalized rights, on Saturday (7) more than 800, at least, mobilized to see Marilac's “show”, which became famous due to their “good drinks”… Nothing against it, I love the nightlife and a good party, but damn… Just to give one example, when the Argentine parliament approved equal marriage, thousands of Argentines took to the streets there…
They can say that I'm boring, moralistic and everything, but the facts are there and they reveal an LGBT community that for the most part doesn't care about the issue of rights... As long as they don't need them.
