A New Witch-Hunt: LGBTQIA+ State Persecution by Brazil’s Christian Far-Right

This paper posits that the contemporary Brazilian far-right Christian narrative casts the LGBTQIA+ community in a role akin to that of witches in fifteenth- to eighteenth-century Christian thought. It begins by tracing the historical trajectory of LGBTQIA+phobia within post-nineteenth century Christianity, highlighting the religion’s frequent collusion with far-right politics. The analysis then explores theoretical frameworks that reveal the historical manipulation of religious doctrines to sanction and perpetuate systemic oppression. Drawing parallels between the witch-hunts of the past and the present-day vilification of the LGBTQIA+ community in Brazil, the paper explores the socio-political mechanisms that facilitate such persecution. It further examines the rhetoric and practices of the Brazilian far-right, which, under the guise of religious and moral righteousness, perpetuates a cycle of discrimination and exclusion. The conclusion underscores the continuity of oppressive tactics, asserting that while the victims may have evolved, the underlying strategies of marginalization employed by the Brazilian far-right remain distressingly consistent. This study thus sheds light on the enduring legacy of intolerance and the urgent need for a concerted effort to dismantle these persistent structures of hate.