Raising the Flag: The Early Years of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Press in Brazil, 1963–1981

Abstract

This article describes the beginnings of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) periodical press in Brazil. Structured around Benedict Anderson’s concept of imagined communities and Jürgen Habermas’s theory of the public sphere, it shows how a marginalized group constructed a positive sense of identity and set out to change popular culture by challenging prejudice and discrimination. The analysis concentrates on the mimeograph journals circulated among gay men in the 1960s, such as O Snob, and the pioneering community newspaper Lampião (1978–1981), examining their treatment of gender and sexuality through issues such as cross-dressing, sex roles, and street prostitution. Through their explorations of the LGBT subculture and innovative use of discourse based on popular slang, these publications helped create a new space for the public discussion of sexuality as well as greater cultural awareness of a shared but diverse community.