GAY HISTORY OF BRAZIL

photo by: multirio.rio.rj.gov.br

There are around 196 countries in the world, and each of them has its particular attitude to gay culture. Why one countries are liberal and gay-friendly, while other don't even have a small gay club in the city? What influence on government decision to ban gay parade or to allow gay marriages? There are few facts like type of government, mentality, religion or connecting all in one - history. To understand countries attitude to gay culture 1st thing is good to know is history. 

Gay history of Brazil started centuries before it was discovered; the evidence was found out in manuscripts, drawings, sculptures. 

The first words about sodomy among natives were mentioned in the begging of XVI century by Portuguese arrived to the continent.  The first tribe discovered by Europeans was Topinamba, settled mostly along the ocean coast; Portuguese mentioned in chronics acts of "anomalous love" among same-sex people. In 1576 Pedro M. Gandavo in "Tratado da Terra do Brasil" mentioned about men that communicate as husband and wife.

Tribe Guarani, mostly located around river Paraguay, surprised pioneers with communities of men dressed like women, having relationships with men, practicing female tasks like cooking, needlework, even simulating menstruation. 

Amazone forests are also famous with its lesbian tribes, at the begging pioneers were confused if it was a tribe of men or women. 

So, originally indians in Brazil had a positive attitude to homosexuals; in the beginning of colonization, some gays and lesbians migrated to feel free and not be afraid of showing their sexual orientation. 

Conflicts started to became more evident in the end of XVI contrary with the spread of Christianity. In 1591 Padre Frutuoso Alvares was the first homosexual sentenced for inquisition in Bahia. A lot of gay had to hide their homosexuality to survive. 

The situation in the country started to become better only in the XIX century, when in 1830 the Penal Code exclude sodomy as a crime.  1959 entered to Brazilian gay history as a year when was published first gay newspaper "Snobe" RJ. In 1977 lawyer Joao Antonio Mascarenhas, editor of "Gay sunshine" Winstone Leiland met in Brazil to initiate foundation of Brazilian Homosexual Movement. 2 years later 9 groups were created; till now the oldest one is consider Group Gay Bahia. Stating since the end of XX century Gay Parade in Sao Paulo attracts more more visitors (2001 - 250 000 people, 2003 - 1 million, 2012 - 4 millions). The most significant point in Brazilian gay history is considered decision made in 2004 by administrations of Rio Grande do Sul, Parana and other states to register homosexual marriages. Since May 2011 homosexual marriages are allowed on the territory of the whole country.

1st GAY SCHOOL IN BRAZIL

With support of Ministry of Culture and NGO E-Jovem in Campinas (SP) is opened 1st gay school in Brazil and 2nd in Latin America for teenagers. Program includes all basic subject plus dancing, theatre, music, cinema, drag queen performance and etc. School offers 100 positions and education is free, provided by volunteers from E-jovem NGO. The goal of the project is to create comfortable environment for homosexual teenagers without homophobia, giving them possibility to develop their endowments and skill. The registration starts in January for teenagers from 12 to 18 years old. During semesters students will create books, articles, CDs, DVDs with didactic material about gay culture and against bullying and  homophobia. 

THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE A PLASTIC SURGERY

Decided to change something in yourself? Are you looking for a place to have a plastic surgery or cosmetic procedure? There is a great place for you.

Brazil is famous gay-friendly destination with its not only wide range of tourists attractions, like, beaches, sightseeing, cuisine, but rare one  - medical tourism. 

In 2009 ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) put Brazil on 3rd position in the list of countries with the most surgical and non surgical cosmetic procedures. Generally in Brazil around 630 thousand of plastic surgeries are performed per year! Starting since 1997 some members of ISAPS are coming to Brazil to know about new techniques and innovations. 
Reading this post you' re probably asking why travel to Brazil for it? We answer your question with 3 main points: different attitude to surgeries, new technologies, rehabilitation period on the ocean coast.

1). Different attitude to surgeries. 
It's amazing, but Brazilians in general have positive attitude to surgeries; add volume to lips, correct shape of nose or ears, make boobs bigger using implants, here it's as widespread and common as haircut or manicure. How it can be explained? With culture. It's not a secret that Brazilians are famous with their perfect hot bodies, during summer you don't need to buy a magazine, just look around and enjoy. Hot tropical weather push you to use less cloth possible, so to have something to show you need to keep fit. Probably this intention to look perfect influence on decision about surgeries. Big demand on this kind of service made it very common for doctors and created significant number of good quality specialists and clinics.   
Different attitude to surgeries here you can see among doctors also. Some American and European surges from ISASP admit that Brazilian specialist consider plastic surgery as an art, meanwhile Americans look to it from technical point of view. Discussing your choice and planning a procedure they pay more attention to esthetic  beauty and your image then numbers and stereotypes.

2)New technologies. 
Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida came here to have cosmetic surgeries in 1960 in the hospital of Rio de Janeiro! In that time Brazil already had a suitable level of medicine to compete with USA and Europe. Increasing demand on plastic surgeries influenced on innovation sphere; to handle the competition clinics need to have some key factors to attract clients. Brazilian doctors are recognized worldwide and you can see some of them in any international innovation researches and projects. Here you can find various types of implants, cosmetic brands and methods. Brazil is one of few countries that started to use Lasik methods for vision correction. And the greatest thing is that you don't need to take a huge loan in a bank or save unreal sum of money, cause plastic surgeries in Brazil are considered as one of the most affordable in the world, due to currency exchange rates. 

3) Rehabilitation on the ocean coast.  
One of the problems why it's difficult to make a decision about plastic surgery is worries about rehabilitation period: where to stay, how long it will last, etc. Brazil has a wide range of resorts close to the beach, in remote area or close to the city center, whatever you want. Good climate, sound of ocean waves, fresh fruits - all you need for fast recovery. We recommend you to choose clinic in such cities as Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis or Fortaleza. Florianopolis recently was called the city with the best quality of plastic surgeries, plus to all it has 42 beaches to choose where you will relax after. The best period to come is from April to November, cause temperature here is not so high (especially during winter season from June to September), consider that you'll have to avoid sunlights after surgery, plus to all there are not so many tourists, beaches are almost empty and prices are lower.

So, we hope these reasons are enough to answer you question. And in the end there are few more tips, if you decide to come to Brazil for medical tourism.

1)Once you choose a doctor and clinic, check if he/she is the member of Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery - the best way to check qualification.
2)It's much more comfortable and safe to use services of tourist agencies specializing in medical tourism.
3)Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, without doubts, have the biggest number of plastic surgeons, but don't ignore some other options as Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, they also have good specialist and prices can be cheaper.  
  

What must be in your luggage?

After you finally chose a destination, bought tickets and booked a hotel, here comes next challenge - what should I take with me? How to fit my wardrobe in  23 kg limit?

We'll try to help you with a choice, giving tips about main things that must be in your luggage to feel comfortable in Brazil in all situations.

Range of things you'll take depends on a destination. On the one hand, Brazil is a tropical country, on the other hand, culture and lifestyle here are very diverse, depending on a region.

If you're traveling to the coast, first of all, put few bottles of sunscreen, cause sun here in summer is very strong. Of corse, you can buy it here; local shops have a lot of options, but international brands in Brazil are much more expensive (around 50% more expensive then in Europe and USA), and we have doubts that as soon a`s your plane lands first thing you'll do is to buy a sunscreen. 

Another thing you'll use here as often as sunscreen is flip flops. Brazilians who live on the coast during summer use it everywhere: to go shopping, in University and even at work! So, feel free using it whenever you want; give your feet an opportunity to have rest from shoes and sneakers. Locals usually have 3-4 pairs in their wardrobe; here you can see various shops specializing in decoration of flip flops. What I recommend you is to take 1 pair from home to survive on the beach during 1st days, and then buy Havaianas -one of the most popular flip flops producers. Havainas with Brazilian flag is a good souvenir to bring home. Besides Havaianas, another popular brand is Ipanema; most of Brazilians prefer 1st one, but both of them have a good quality and interesting design. 

After you put flip flops, next important thing is surf shorts; take few,  cause it's very useful. For example, in the city, like Rio de Janeiro, from one side there is an avenue with bars, shopping centers and business offices and from the other side there is a beach, and surf shorts, thanks to its specific fabric, dry fast and suitable to go shopping straight from the beach. Cities that have beaches in Brazil usually are famous with its beach fashion; people pay attention to new modern trends, so follow the news. This summer according fashion weeks in the list of trends you can find flower prints and bright colors.
Another important thing to know is that during summer it can rain a lot. It usually doesn't influence on temperature, which varies from 29-40 degrees, but it's barely possible to leave hotel without waterproof cloth, cause rain here is very strong, so a pair of crocs and umbrella might be useful!
Besides casual cloth, take something to go out. You will be surprised; noticing Havaianas and very simple cloth during the day, at night staying in queue to enter to the club, you'll see all modern trend from fashion week in one line. Brazilians pay a lot of  attention to a party look. Take sneakers or shoes, cause it's not allowed to use flip flops in a bar or night club, and some t-shirts made from light fabrics, like cotton, cause imagine, when its + 40  outdoor and a club is full of people; it's really hot, even with air-conditioned.

photo by:www.madeinbrazilblog.com

Talking about colors, we recommend you to choose cloth with lights colors, like white, beige, yellow, mint, etc, and don't forget about bright accessorizes. Avoid to use dark cloth, cause black attracts sunlights.
The last but not the least tip if you are traveling to Sao Paulo or other city, that doesn't have access to the ocean coast, in addition to all tips, given above, we would like to mention that people in cities like Sao Paulo are much more formal in their way of dressing; take a pair of jeans and some shirts!