Queering Public Policy in Brazil: The Interplay Between the LGBTQ+ Movement and Institutions

This paper examines how the LGBTQ movement in Brazil influences policy-making via institutional routes and venue-selection strategies. Grounded in queer theory, the study assesses policy shifts reflecting evolving queer subject significance in politics, encompassing gender and sexuality changes within public policy discourse. Institutional frameworks, characterized by checks and balances, shape social policy outcomes, often leading to legislative resistance. The research addresses the process of queering public policy and its challenges. Methodologically, qualitative analysis of academic literature, policy documents, and semi-structured interviews (22 between March and August 2021) reveal a causal mechanism whereby the LGBTQ movement pressures institutions for policy outcomes. Two cases illustrate this: the expansive "Brazil Without Homophobia" policy of 2004 and the 2019 criminalization of LGBTphobia by the Supreme Federal Court, arising from a 2001 Congressional process. Collaborative efforts, leveraging opportunities, and securing public, political, and judiciary support strategically guided LGBTQ policy-making. This research unveils intricate interactions between social movements, institutions, and policy transformation, shedding light on LGBTQ rights evolution and activism in queering policy in Brazil.