Social Movements and Political Parties: Gays, Lesbians, And Travestis and the Struggle for Inclusion in Brazil.
Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies 2006, July, 31, 62
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Publisher Description
Abstract. The struggle for recognition and inclusion of gays, lesbians, and travestis (GLTs) into Brazilian society and politics emerged during the democratization process set in motion in the late 1970s. Part of this struggle has involved attempts at gaining access to and influence over political parties in order to push forward a pro-GLT agenda. This article examines and seeks to explain how political parties matter for the struggle of GLTs in Brazil, as well as the main patterns of support for and opposition to GLT rights across the left-right spectrum of political parties in Brazil. This article argues that while it is neither the sole nor main vehicle for progressive change, parties matter in generating policy and legislative change in favour of sexual minorities. While greater support can be found in leftist parties mainly for institutional and historical reasons, this support is not unanimous within the left. Religion and individual attitudes also help explain these patterns. Moreover, the same factors, coupled with electoral incentives, also shed light on the general opposition and occasional support from right-wing parties. Resume. La lutte pour la reconnaissance et l'inclusion des gays, lesbiennes et transsexuels (GLT) dans la societe et la politique bresiliennes est apparue durant le processus de democratisation declenche a la fin des annees 1970. Une partie de cette lutte a eu pour but d'acceder aux partis politiques et a les influencer, cela pour favoriser les revendications pro-GLT. Cet article examine et cherche a expliquer l'importance des partis politiques dans la lutte des GLT au Bresil, ainsi que les principaux patrons d'appui et d'opposition aux droits des GLT au sein de la gauche. On affirme que, meme si les partis ne sont pas les seuls ni les plus importants vecteurs de changement social, ils jouent un role dans la production de changements politiques et legislatifs favorables aux minorites sexuelles. Alors que l'appui est plus significatif dans les partis de gauche, surtout pour des raisons institutionnelles et historiques, cet appui n'est pas unanime. La religion et les attitudes individuelles expliquent aussi ces patrons. D'ailleurs, les memes facteurs, associes a des incitatifs electoraux, permettent de mieux comprendre l'opposition generale et l'appui occasionnel des partis de droite.