#witchisgenderneutral

Witches and Lgbt+ people alike in the Brazil's north and northeast cities are facing a deadly reality as far right President Jair Bolsonaro and Minister Damars, target them. The northern cities have the largest population of Lgbt+ and witchcraft, two of the major practices being Candomblé and Umbanda.

In 2018 when Jair Bolsomaro started his campaign the number of homophobic attacks and murders tripled as time passed and well into his Presidency in 2019. This made Brazil the leading country in homophobic homicides. According to TransEurope an Lgbt+ person is killed every 16 hours in Brazil.

After President Bolsonaro took office in January, Brazil's only openly gay congressman fled the country due to death threats. He even openly admitting that if one of his sons was gay that he would rather be dead and that gays should stay away because Brazil will not be a gay paradise. This caused many cinemas and stores who openly supported Lgbt+ community to close down as well.

This year, Brazil's top court has voted racently to include Lgbt+ community to the anti-discrimination laws. With majority vote of 8-3 many hope that this will be the beginning of an end allowing the Lgbt+ community to finally relax. Some still doubt that anything will change as the president makes offensive moves in the northeast.

During this time Minister Damars makes moves against the witchcraft community. Before she became minister Damars was a priest and activist for "Boys wear blue and girls wear pink" movement. One speech was given at First Baptist Church João Pessoa where she speaks of a manual of witchcraft that the north and northeast cities are providing their schools for children, specifically 6 year olds. This supposed manual provides the following teachings:

·How to be a witch

·How to make a witch clothes

·How to make witch bread

·How to make a witch broom

These cities have a large population involved with witchcraft. Many having strong roots in African - derived religions which have important roles for Afro-Brazilians past and present.

The traditions have been celebrated and discriminated at different parts of Brazil's history by different causes.

One major time was post independence by the Catholic church claiming that such traditions were evidence that the traditions were "backwards" African culture and how Afro-Brazilian failed to become "true Catholics".

While many African derived religions there are many others that brought over by slaves such as hausa, yoruba, and many other but due to the culture shock and hiding their beliefs under strick catholic teachings over time gave way to today's practices that are an amalgam of all the various traditions and continue with conversation with others such as Nigeria and thus the Candomblé and Umbanda.

This outbreak of violent attacks and murder throughout Brazil is something I felt needed to be known and awareness. It's an attack on traditions, beliefs, and love. Taking what many feel proud of. Their heritage, the people they love, and their human rights has caused so much panic and sadness but so many cannot afford to move and just as many have stood up and fight for their homes and country.

Please share and let me know what you think.

Links:

https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/faq/african-derived-religions-brazil

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cartacapital.com.br/politica/o-nordeste-tem-um-manual-de-bruxaria-para-criancas-diz-damares/amp/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/brazils-supreme-court-criminalizes-homophobic-acts-11560467658