Folha virada: LGBTQIAPN+ em terreiros de umbanda no estado do Piauí

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the intersections between gender, sexuality, and religious practices in umbanda terreiros of Piauí, focusing on the LGBTQIAPN+ community. Rooted in the concept of “turned leaf”, a term historically used to describe attempts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQIAPN+ individuals in such spaces, the research conducts a cartographic mapping of the experiences of LGBTQIAPN+ people in three Piauí terreiros, emphasizing the experiences of pais de santo and mães de santo. The study also addresses the historical and epistemological gaps of coloniality and religious racism in Brazil, problematizing the invisibilization of afro-piauian practices and knowledge, as well as the marginalization of LGBTQIAPN+ identities in religious and social contexts. In this way, the dissertation seeks to analyze both the history of umbanda and its counter-hegemonic practices and the experiences of the interviewed LGBTQIAPN+ leaders, delving into artistic creation as a means of investigating corporeality in these terreiros. The research contributes to the cultural debate on sexual and gender diversity in Brazil, particularly in afro-religious contexts, emphasizing the importance of considering local specificities and the potential of umbanda terreiros as territories for artistic formulation and creation.