It was June 28, 1969 when a conflict between police officers and the LGBT community began in front of the Stonewall Inn bar in New York, United States. The rebellion became a landmark in the fight for gay rights around the world. On the cold afternoon of last Sunday (28/06), 40 years later, young activists from left-wing political groups gathered at the headquarters of the Union of Official Education Teachers of the State of São Paulo (APEOESP) in an act to "rescue Stonewall and remove the festive character of the date".
During the session, a table formed by the president of the women's association Pão e Rosas, Mara Onija and the master in cinema and leader of the Working Group (GT) of Blacks of the National Coordination of Struggles (Conlutas), Wilson Silva, in addition to the representative from the entity's LGBT GT, Elder Sano, debated with the just over 30 present, the need for a change in the Parade's format and invited the gay movement to return to the streets to fight against prejudice.
At 16pm, the time set for the start of the event, the chairs were still empty. "It will be a little late, but we expect more people", explained the organizers. On the floor, Mara Onija was preparing the final details of a poster that would be pasted on the wall.
When the session began, the Pão e Rosas representative recalled the murder of Marcelo Campos after the São Paulo Gay Parade on the 14th. "Today's act has a double sign, party and Marcelo's death", she said.
Then it was Wilson Silva's turn to speak. He argued. "The Parade nowadays has become a party and when you say it's fun, you forget that there are people who have fun raping women or beating gays", he said. Also according to the leader of the GT de Negros da Conlutas, "Parada refuses to see us as partners, but it is a partner with establishments, such as saunas, that exploit gays."
New Stonewall in Brazil?
Wilson and Mara stated in consensus that without struggle and unity it will not be possible to end discrimination. "That flame heated by Stonewall must continue. It is necessary to rebuild the walls of rebellion to combat homophobia", they pointed out. Still according to the activists, it is necessary to "strike everyone, like they did".
At the end of the speeches, which also highlighted the importance of Conlutas' initiative in remembering 40 years of Stonewall, 10 young people from the audience, including a representative of the PSTU LGBT Secretariat and another from the National Union of Students (UNE), asked questions and expressed their points of view.
The event ended with a salute to Stonewall and a round of applause.
