LGBTQ+ Resources — Brazil
Helplines
- CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida): 188, 24/7 free crisis support (Portuguese).
- Rede de Proteção LGBT: Regional helplines in several states.
- Associação de Mães e Pais pela Liberdade (AMPLA): Support for families.
- Emergency: 190 (police). For hate crimes, always report and seek legal support.
Legal Aid
- ABGLT — The national association of LGBTQ+ organizations: advocacy and resources. abglt.org.br
- Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB) — One of the oldest LGBTQ+ organizations in the world (1980), with legal and social support.
- IEE (Instituto de Estudos Estratégicos) — Legal support for LGBTQ+ people.
- Public Defender's offices (Defensoria Pública) — Free legal aid; they handle discrimination and name change cases.
- Key fact: Same-sex marriage and adoption are legal nationwide (STF 2011/2013). Trans people can change name and gender marker administratively (2022 ruling).
Shelters & Housing
- Casa Chama (São Paulo) — Shelter for trans women.
- Casa Florescer (São Paulo) — Shelter for trans women and travestis.
- Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais (ANTRA) housing programs — Referrals.
- Local community networks — Queer orgs in Rio, Salvador, Recife maintain safe-house lists.
Health
- SUS (public health system) — Free trans care through the Transsexualizing Process (Processo Transexualizador) at public hospitals.
- CRT (Centro de Referência e Treinamento DST/Aids) (São Paulo) — Testing and HIV care.
- Testing — Free HIV/STI testing at public health clinics (UBS/CTA) nationwide.
- PrEP — Free through SUS.
Community Orgs
- ABGLT — National umbrella.
- Grupo Gay da Bahia (Salvador) — Community and support.
- ANTRA — National trans association.
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation Brazil — Testing and support in multiple cities.
- Parada do Orgulho — São Paulo Pride is the largest in the world (often 4-5 million attendees), held each June.
- Local orgs — Rio (Arco-Íris), Recife (Aidssos), Belo Horizonte (Cellos).
Mental Health
- CVV: 188, 24/7.
- Local LGBT community centers — Counseling and support groups in major cities.
- Queer-affirming therapist directories — Many therapists advertise LGBTQ+ specialization on psychology platforms.
- PODS / group therapy programs — Community-run in São Paulo and Rio.
Note: Brazil has strong legal protections and massive Pride events, but violence against trans people remains tragically high — community networks and known-safe spaces are essential.