NGO contributes to strengthening family bonds between LGBT+ parents and children

Mães da Resistência is an NGO made up of mothers, fathers, and family members of LGBTQIAPN+ people, who fight for rights and dignity for this group from the place of relatives. The objective is to build a society that is more respectful, dignified and fair for its sons and daughters. 

The role of father and mother is used to also welcome other fathers and mothers of LGBTQIAPN+ people, who still feel uncomfortable with this situation or do not know how to act in relation to their children’s emotional, sexual and gender identity issues. 

Mães da Resistência is also a group to welcome other family members. The NGO was founded by mothers from several Brazilian states. The president, Gi Carvalho, from Olinda, Pernambuco, was chosen by everyone for the position. 

Adriana Mota is the national coordinator of the project nucleus and coordinator of the organization in the state of Rio de Janeiro. She explains that the main objective of the institution is to ensure that any LGBTQIAPN+ person enjoys the right to family relationships, has a welcoming family and feels like a loved, loved and welcome person in it. 

“We know that families have their relationship issues, mothers and children, fathers and children, but we want sexual orientation and gender identity not to be a reason for family members to give up their children.” 

“So, our fight is for family dignity, it is to strengthen these relationships. We also want to improve the citizenship of LGBTQIAPN+ people, so that our children have the right and access to education, work, leisure, culture, sport. To a dignified life, in other words: to everything that any mother or father wants for their children”, she says.

How it started 

The NGO’s activities are not new to the group of mothers, as the founders of the institution already worked to support the bonds of their families and also the families of other people. 

The idea was to make mothers who felt alone realize that there were other people fighting for the same rights and, in this way, realize that they were not alone. The institution understands that motherhood is a personal function, but also a collective one; so the fight must be collective.

Locations of operation 

Mães da Resistência is present in 17 Brazilian states. The national headquarters was recently acquired and is still being organized. 

The NGO has a project that takes place virtually, called Colcha de Retalhos, which provides reception for mothers, fathers and family members, where they have two health professionals. People from all over Brazil participate. They also give lectures at schools and companies. The frequency depends on the demands presented by the spaces. 

Therefore, online meetings aim to build a safe space where these fathers and mothers can ask their questions, discuss motherhood, fatherhood and the LGBTQIAPN+ universe.

Impact 

Adriana explains that, for the participating fathers and mothers, the impact has been very positive. The group receives many messages from people saying that, when they arrived, they were sad, with a feeling similar to mourning, as they no longer recognized their sons and daughters. 

“These are parents who, in general, are afraid of violence towards their children. When these children are LGBTQIAPN+, fear increases, as we hear a lot of news of violence and homophobic crimes.” 

“Now, we realize that everyone is happy, feeling relieved, comforted by meeting other families and realizing that, even though they are going through a particularly difficult time, it can indeed be overcome.” 

“Finally, it could later turn into a moment of better understanding, of strengthening family ties. This, for us, is something really very positive”, concludes Adriana. 

In Rio de Janeiro, there is a specific group for parents, as the NGO understands that they too must play a leading role in this fight.

Did you like it? Find out how to help 

Like, read and share the NGO pages on Facebook and Instagram. 

Support the NGO’s activities by making a Pix for CNPJ 46.433.691/0001-18. 

Access the literacy booklet Mães que Resistem here, a reading for fathers and mothers. 

Read the book Mãe de Viado, written by one of the mothers of the resistance.