Professor and anthropologist LaShandra Sullivan has provided a new framework in which we can better understand Black LGBTI+ struggles, activism, and resilience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In recent years, Brazil has seen significant increases in violence, especially against the Black, female LGBTI+ community. With the recent election of President Jair Bolsonaro, misogynistic and homophobic rhetoric has rapidly proliferated, thus promoting racist attitudes and hate crimes throughout the country. Sullivan eloquently described the term segurar to represent the practice that is characterized by ‘holding on and staying upright’; paving a pathway to one’s future endeavors. Notably, this notion of segurar is unevenly distributed throughout society, making staying afloat a challenging feat for some more so than others.
Continue reading