For most part of history and up to the current times, the expression of sexual diversity and gender has received a number of attributes which have been used by governmental authorities and by society in general to label the LGBT population. Often, the terms used carry a negativity which contributes to reinforce stigma, prejudice and discrimination. They are absorbed by the body and associated by the mind to sins, criminal acts, aberrations and diseases.The negative connotation is long-lasting in the individual and collective imagination, because these terms are given a political meaning and are associated to deviated, marginal and immoral spaces where fear, incredulity and the disqualification of the human being, legitimate violent acts that often impact one’s lifetime.“Gay and Happy?” is an itinerant project between Porto Alegre (Brazil) – from 07/04/2017 to 18/04/2017 - and Rosario (Argentina) – from 18/04/2017 to 29/04/2017 - that involves 16 organisations and 32 representatives who operate in Italy, Germany, Argentina and Brazil on matters like equal opportunities and gender equality. By using a common approach to working and sharing resources, experiences and methodologies across the different themes and the geographical areas involved, the project aims at building a ‘communication bridge’ where cooperation, sharing and exchange between the main actors become the key elements to investigate the different aspects of discrimination, included those found within the LGBT community. The project, through a shared participation experience, puts the basis for the development of an international partnership, the exchange of best practices and the development of innovative methodologies.
For most part of history and up to the current times, the expression of sexual diversity and gender has received a number of attributes which have been used by governmental authorities and by society in general to label the LGBT population. Often, the terms used carry a negativity which contributes to reinforce stigma, prejudice and discrimination. They are absorbed by the body and associated by the mind to sins, criminal acts, aberrations and diseases. The negative connotation is long-lasting in the individual and collective imagination, because these terms are given a political meaning and are associated to deviated, marginal and immoral spaces where fear, incredulity and the disqualification of the human being, legitimate violent acts that often impact one’s lifetime. “Gay and Happy?” is an itinerant project starting in Rosario (Argentina from 07/04/2017 to 18/04/2017 and continuing in Porto Alegre (Brazil) from 19/04/2017 to 29/04/2017 - that involves 16 organisations and 38 representants who operate in Italy, Germany, Argentina and Brazil on the themes discrimination, social inclusion, equal opportunities and gender. By using a common approach to working and sharing resources, experiences and methodologies across the different themes and the geographical areas involved, the project build a ‘communication bridge’ between "men in charge" by the development of the policies related to the themes. The international cooperation by this project, the sharing of experiences and best practices give a possibility to networking, key elements, new work- and pedagogical instruments for to investigate on different aspects of discrimination, including those found within the LGBT community. The project, through a shared participation experience, build furthermore the basis for the development of international thematic partnerships, where the continue exchange of best practices between organisations, youth- and social workers and referents, promote the growth of a greater "sensibility" toward discriminated groups, communities and individuals and the development of innovative pedagogical methodologies for them to be re-used also in local and national work contexts.