Sao Paulo Fashion Week, LGBT resistance, and the Far Right

TW: Homophobia, Transphobia, and LGBT Violence

What exactly is happening in Brazil?

Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, samba, the amazon, pop sensation Anitta, and it's greatest export: Super Models. 

However, with so much news surrounding American politics and the Trump administration, we tend to lose focus on what is occurring in the rest of the world. In the 2018 Brazilian election, Jair Bolsonaro won the Brazilian popular vote and became president of the South American country. Bolsonaro is a member of the Social Liberal Party — Brazil's conservative political party. The Brazilian president made multiple homophobic comments in interviews and in his campaign without shame. The president said he would rather have his son die in an accident than be gay. According to the Brazilian magazine Exame, he said: "But we can’t let this place become known as a gay tourism paradise. Brazil can’t be a country of the gay world, of gay tourism. We have families." 

Bolsonario's rhetoric is disturbing, but in an era where fascism is on the rise — and the rhetoric that comes with it has been renormalized — it is not a surprise that another Western nation is embracing a politician like Bolsario. Since Bolsario's been in office violence against the LGBT community has risen. 

The Beauty of Sao Paulo Fashion Week

Sao Paulo is Brazil's s financial center and the most populated city in the Americas. The city is beautiful, vibrant, diverse, and rich in history which ultimately is a reflection of the country as a whole. However, 41% of reported murders of transgender people happen in Brazil. Not only are these numbers alarming, but the lack of media attention is just as disturbing. Due to the rising stats surrounding the safety of the trans community in Brazil and the homophobic rhetoric of the president, the fashion community of Brazil has used its global platform as a tool to fight back against homophobia and transphobia in the country and the world. In August 2019, SAMBAZINE launched an editorial magazine that highlights LGBT history and culture while using exclusively LGBT models, photographers, makeup artists, etc.  

Brazil's fashion industry positioned itself as a safe space and a space for resistance. During Sao Paulo fashion week, the fifth-largest fashion week in the world, Sam Porto, a transgender male model made his runway debut. During the Cavalera fashion show, Porto graced the catwalk showing his scars from chest reconstruction surgery and with Trans Respect written on his chest. Not only was it a beautiful moment in catwalk history, but a beautiful showcase of resistance in Brazil. 

Brazilian modeling agencies are also attempting to stand on the right side of history. Modeling agency Rock Management in Sao Paulo is attempting to push the envelope by having an inclusive roster. For a country known for producing supermodels, it is a powerful statement when a top Brazilian agency wants to be inclusive. Rock Management has signed multiple trans models, especially trans models of color, and aspires to redefine beauty standards and to bring diversity to the main stage of fashion. 

The fashion industry is typically a reflection of society and catering to consumer fantasies. In an era of Instagram girls and nepotism running rampant seeing the fashion community in Brazil not only fight back the far-right in the country but also make a statement beyond casting one "ethnic" model or the child of a has-been. The fashion community in Brazil will continue to fight for justice, not only for LGBT Brazilians but for members of the LGBT community globally. 

As usual thanks for Keeping up With Kat