The institute discusses the importance of lesbian visibility

The National Lesbian Visibility Day, August 29, is a date that marks the struggle of lesbian women to occupy their spaces in the world and have rights guaranteed by law, rights that are often disrespected on the street, such as dignity, equality and respect.

The day was chosen due to the organization of SENALE, the 1st National Lesbian Seminar, on the same day in the year 1996, by COLERJ, Coletivo de Lésbicas do Rio de Janeiro (the Lesbian Collective of Rio de Janeiro). At the time, it was a way to bring together women to discuss visibility, health, and organization.

The initiative became a landmark for advancing the rights of lesbian women and was established as the National Lesbian Visibility Day in the country. The Brazilian Lesbian Institute is an organization formed by lesbians, predominantly black lesbians.

Faith and effort to amplify lesbian visibility

General Director and one of the founders of the Brazilian Lesbian Institute, the social worker Michele Seixas, is a resident of Complexo do Alemão, North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, and an Ekedi in an African diasporic religion.

Michele Seixas is also an expert in Human Rights, Gender, and Sexuality – DIHS/ENSP/FIOCRUZ, a public health researcher, and a member of the Gender, Ethnicity, and Sexual Diversity Commission – GEDS/CRESS RJ. She is involved in the National Political Coordination of the Articulação Brasileira de Lésbicas (“Brazilian Lesbian Articulation”) – ABL, serves as the Executive Director of the  Grupo de Mulheres Felipa de Sousa (“Felipa de Sousa Women’s Group” ), Executive Director of the Rede Ablan – Affection Network for Mothers and Caregivers of People with Disabilities, National Health Council Member – CNS (user segment), and more.

She mentions that the institution follows the guidance of ancestry and is governed by the deity Oxum, revered within African diasporic religions. Furthermore, she explains that the organization is always in alignment with the Movimento de Lésbicas  (“Lesbian Movement) in Brazil and collaborates with other groups, collectives, networks, and institutions that share the same ethical and political principles.

Setbacks and achievements

The NGO Instituto Brasileiro de Lésbicas operates at both regional and local levels, specifically within the Complexo do Alemão in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro. Its objectives include strengthening the Lesbian Movement in Brazil, mobilizing the Lesbian Movement for specific agendas, participating in the development of public policies and rights councils, implementing social projects aimed at the target audience, and encouraging the formation of lesbian groups.

The main activities of the institute include: Viradão Sapatão, Favela Viva (Favela Lives), and  Encontro Estadual de Lésbicas do Rio de Janeiro (“State Meeting of Lesbians in Rio de Janeiro”) – ENLES/RJ. The greatest impact lies in the number of lesbian women educated and empowered to collaborate with the movement.

Asked about the changes that have occurred in recent times, such as the way lesbians are seen by society as a whole, Michele responds:

“We don’t see very favorable changes for us lesbian women, since the violence rates are increasing and the deaths by lesbicide are more and more heinous every day and also the lesbian movement still follows as one of the letters, of the acronym, that least receives attention in terms of Public Policies, funds or funding for carrying out necessary actions for the collective”.

Contact the Institute to find out how to help

+55 (21) 98004-3083 – Michele Seixas, Director General

+55 (21) 99748-0461 – Márcia Brito, Executive director,

E-mail: institutobrasileirodelesbicas@gmail.com

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*Civil and social movement that seeks to defend and build public policies for lesbian women, in addition to full respect for their rights.

LGBTQIA+ friendly places in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, for girls only; Porto Alegre and Bahia.