LGBTQIA+ Memory and Truth Working Group holds Public Hearing

The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) opened on Monday (22) the first day of the public hearing of the Southeast region of the Ministerial Working Group (GT) of Memory and Truth of LGBTQIA+ People. The event took place after the 25th LGBT Pride Parade of Belo Horizonte (BH).

The public hearing, the second held by the WG, featured three panels and the participation of experts and people who experienced stories of violence during the military dictatorship. Symmy Larrat, National Secretary for the Rights of LGBTQIA+ People, highlighted the importance of understanding the historical impact of these violations by the Brazilian State.

“There is no construction of public policies and social justice without understanding this period and its impact on people’s lives. These hearings will reveal to us the path we need to take towards these policies. We need to have our memory told from our perspective,” he emphasized.

In addition to the secretary, the opening table was attended by Renan Quinalha, president of the GT; Marco Antônio Torres, representative of the National Council of LGBTQIA+ People; and Maicon Chaves, president of Cellos-MG.

Created in December 2023, the LGBTQIA+ Memory and Truth Working Group’s mission is to shed light on human rights violations against the LGBTQIA+ population throughout Brazilian history. The group is made up of representatives from all regions of the country and from different identities, and holds monthly meetings to develop research that will support the final report.