In Brazil, according to a Datafolha survey released in 2022, 15.5 million people identify with one of the letters of the LGBTQIA+ community. But, despite corresponding to 9.3% of the population, this contingent of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other sexual orientation or gender identity differences faces difficulties in entering the job market.
As an alternative, many dedicate their efforts to building their own business and turn to entrepreneurship, as indicated by Diversity and Inclusion analyst at the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) Louise Nogueira. “We have data and information that show that people from the LGBTQIA+ community, even more so when they publicly declare themselves part of the community, have a lot of difficulty entering the job market, so entrepreneurship ends up being a way out for them.”
On Thursday (28), Sebrae concluded the first edition of the Transcender – LGBT+ Entrepreneurship project, aimed at businesses led by LGBTQIA+ people. During the Transcender Seminar, held at the institution’s headquarters, in the central area of Rio de Janeiro, the 51 selected for the project participated in the lectures LGBT+ Intelligence Bulletin and Leadership for Businesses Led by LGBT+ people, in addition to handing out certificates.
Discrimination
Responsible for the project, the Sebrae analyst highlights that specific vulnerabilities of populations within the group further increase the need to seek alternatives for survival. “In the case of transgender people, the difficulty is even greater because they are unable to complete their studies, they end up leaving home very early due to their parents’ non-acceptance and not being able to enter the job market, especially because they have no qualifications. It’s a very difficult life, So for all these groups, we see that entrepreneurship is a way for these people to have financial autonomy, personal growth, generate income and create employment”, says Louise Nogueira.
For her, the lack of information about the market and consumers are two of the main challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. There is also discrimination linked to different sexual orientations and gender identities, as mentioned by Lucas Gamonal, professor at the Department of Tourism at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
“People often have prejudices associated with appearance, mannerisms and even in relation to people living with HIV. As far away as it may seem, this still exists, so there will be people who are afraid to consume products and services due to these issues.” Gamonal also adds that, on the other hand, those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community can feel safer and belong, consuming and offering services to people from the same group, also promoting the appreciation of the community.
The only transsexual person participating in Transcender, Carol Romeiro is the owner of the beauty salon Carol Romeiro Hair Studio, in the neighborhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west zone of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Like most of the ventures selected for the first edition of the project, the business emerged after the pandemic, in 2022, as a way to find a work space free from aggression due to their gender identity.
“I’ve been working in a beauty salon for ten years, going back and forth within the market, because in the absence of jobs we always resort to what is most common for trans women and which always happens at the time of transition, especially at the beginning, when we don’t we fit into standard A or B. Even with preparation, even with good certificates, there is always that moment when we end up having to resort to prostitution”, he said.
In an interview with Brazil Agencyshe shares that the desire to open her own business came when the salon she worked at closed and she found herself in the position of having to return to prostitution to support herself. “I was going to have to go back to this race again. But I had the clientele. So I started working at home and thus came the need to have my own business so as not to be held hostage by a boss who could cut me off at any time. I understood that if I had my space to work and made my money there, I wouldn’t have to depend on going to places I never wanted to be.”
Even though she owns her own business, Carol says that even today she has to face situations of discrimination and violence with clients. “People want to impose themselves, they don’t want to come and ask for a service. A pastor arrived in the room wanting to evangelize, saying that God had a revelation for me if I left that life, as if I were something sick or sinful. There are several situations that I still face every day.”
Opportunities
According to the UERJ professor, there is a lack of investment in education and training to encourage not only entrepreneurship, but the insertion of LGBTQIA+ people into the job market. As he reinforces, many people who are part of the community have their lives interrupted due to family conflicts and end up in precarious socioeconomic situations.
“Many entrepreneurial initiatives or even formal ventures arise from these insecurities and concerns about not feeling represented, welcomed, liked or valued in these environments. Furthermore, there are needs and desires specific to the community, which then become opportunities for business creation.”
For artist Matheus Pretovich, the possibility of losing investments should also be considered as it explicitly identifies itself as an enterprise led by an LGBTQIA+ person, who identifies with the community’s causes. “It’s the fear of losing status because of this, losing sales or losing followers which nowadays, unfortunately, is a very significant thing, especially for independent artists.”
Despite identifying this as a fear of many entrepreneurs, the artist highlights that there is a strong community that has become a consumer community. “Bringing these agendas, defending this, producing content about this and anticipating these dialogues also connects us with this community, which is a significant and growing consumer market. We see large companies positioning themselves in this way, why don’t we do this too?”, he asks.
Born in Rio Grande do Norte, Matheus dreams of, through Transcender, being able to open a café that is a welcoming and diverse space, “without fear of losing public or business for being who I am, embracing who I embrace or defending who I I defend.”
Transcend Project
Transcender Project guides LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, by André Telles/Sebrae
Starting in May this year, Transcender is Sebrae’s first project aimed specifically at the LGBTQIA+ public. In addition to the training track, those selected participated in lectures, workshops, courses and consultancy on planning, finance, marketing and innovation.
Most of the enterprises are linked to the fashion (clothing and accessories), crafts, beauty and food sectors. Of the people who signed up, gay men were predominant, followed by lesbian women.
“We introduce entrepreneurship or train these people, because some are already entrepreneurs. For those who want to learn, we present entrepreneurship as a solution”, explains Louise Nogueira, an analyst at Sebrae.
In September this year, a survey carried out by the institution, based on data from the Federal Revenue, showed that Brazil registered the opening of 349.5 thousand new small businesses, representing 96% of all National Registers of Legal Entities (CNPJ) created in the period. The sector that led the opening of new CNPJs in September was Services (61%), followed by Commerce (22%) and Industry (8%).
In addition to training, the analyst highlights the importance of financing, with the offer of microcredits, as many of the people who make up the community do not have the income to start a business. “Knowledge is already a lot, but perhaps it is not enough for this group, so help from public authorities, linked to the promotion of credit, and more opportunities for these people is something that Sebrae can offer, but it would still need more support. I believe that both access to credit and access to the market are two obstacles that LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurship still faces.”
“Sebrae is opening doors”, agrees Carol Romeiro, “but we are still moving in this space to be able to train people, and not only do we need training, but we also need to form teams to know how to receive and know how to not attack verbally and physically. I see that there are doors opening, but we are still in our infancy”, he assessed.
*Intern under the supervision of Vinícius Lisboa
