but we need to address the increasing impact farright populists can have on global politics, and in turn how it affects minorities on the ground. It’s important to think even of the influence of Brazil’s harsher stance on equality in Latin America: according to Stonewall, Brazil has actively challenged the perception that LGBT rights are a Western imposition and engaged in consistent advocacy and coalition-building among States. The global LGBT rights movement should be concerned about the potential undermining of these coalitions, which Brazil – along with Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and others – has played a leading role in building. My own concern is that UN sanctions set up to protect the rights and lives of minorities begin to be stripped away as an increasing number of nations support the platform of far-right populism. Or on a more grassroots level, far-right groups have the potential to mobilise and support similar groups internationally, creating a pernicious network difficult to control or negotiate with. When people feel they have become disenfranchised, or suffer the effects of austerity measures, that’s when I worry that racist or fascist ideals become logical alternatives to some, and in turn minorities will ultimately pay the price. Perhaps Bolsonaro may not be as dangerous as he claims to be once sworn in; perhaps his ambitions and personal vendettas will be powerless. What is clear is that we must remain vigilant to division when we see it and continue to protect the rights of our LGBT+ and racial minority communities, in countries that seem a million miles away or closer to home.
“WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE BECOME DISENFRANCHISED, OR SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF AUSTERITY MEASURES, THAT’S WHEN I WORRY THAT RACIST OR FASCIST IDEALS BECOME LOGICAL ALTERNATIVES TO SOME, AND IN TURN MINORITIES WILL ULTIMATELY PAY THE PRICE.”
LGBTQ by Jonny Stone Page 49