A Lei Ordinária 1.788/2023 do município de Jequitinhonha/MG: Um estudo sobre o combate à LGBTQIAP+fobia

Abstract

This study investigates the drafting, publicity, and effectiveness of Municipal Ordinance No. 1.788/2023 in the municipality of Jequitinhonha/MG, which establishes the Municipal Day for Combating LGBTQIAP+phobia and equates this practice to the crime of racism. The study is based on the hypothesis that, despite representing a legal advancement, the effectiveness of this law depends on the population’s level of awareness, its dissemination, and the implementation of effective public policies. To this end, the research analyzes the factors that motivated the law's creation, the community's level of knowledge, its perception of the law’s effectiveness, and municipal actions aimed at combating discrimination. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, combining documentary analysis of municipal legislation and related policies with field research based on informal interviews with community members, public officials, and LGBTQIAP+ movement activists. The results indicate that, although the law represents a significant advancement, its enforcement still faces challenges due to a lack of publicity and cultural resistance in a conservative municipality. However, the role of local collectives has been crucial in promoting awareness and the acceptance of diversity. It is concluded that the effectiveness of Ordinance No. 1.788/2023 requires greater publicity, training for public agents, and a joint effort between the government and civil society to ensure its implementation and transform this legislation into a real instrument of protection for the LGBTQIAP+ community in Jequitinhonha/MG.