Your Mother's Comfort

2020, Brazil, Indianara Siqueira, Portuguese,

Director: Adam Golub
Release Year: 2020
Original title: Aconchego da tua Mãe

Synopsis:

"Aconchego da tua Mãe" (translated as "Your Mother's Comfort") is a 2020 documentary directed by Adam Golub, which chronicles the life and struggles of Indianara Siqueira, a prominent Brazilian trans activist and politician. The film explores the challenges Siqueira faces as she fights to protect the LGBT homeless shelter she founded, CasaNem, amidst the political turmoil in Brazil as an extreme-right wing president looms on the horizon. Indianara Siqueira’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. 

 

A trans activist and politician, she is the founder and leader of CasaNem, a shelter in Rio de Janeiro dedicated to providing support for trans sex workers facing homelessness. Located in the heart of the city, CasaNem serves as a vital space for trans individuals who are marginalized and vulnerable. However, the shelter faces the looming threat of eviction, as it occupies an abandoned building that is at risk of being reclaimed by the authorities. In a desperate attempt to protect her community, Siqueira stages an audacious occupation of a colonial palace in downtown Rio de Janeiro. There, she negotiates with the local government to secure a future for CasaNem and the individuals it serves. The documentary sheds light on the larger political context, as Brazilian democracy seems to crumble under the weight of rising far-right political forces. Against this backdrop, Siqueira becomes a tireless advocate for her community, seeking to shield them from the dangers of the streets in an uncertain future. 

 

Born on May 18, 1971, in Paranaguá, Paraná, India Siqueira's life has been shaped by her commitment to advocating for the rights of trans individuals and sex workers. Siqueira's early years were marked by her M’bya Guarani indigenous heritage, and she began taking hormones at the age of 12. By the time she was 18, Siqueira left home and started living on the streets of São Paulo, where she began working as a prostitute in Santos. It was during this time that she was exposed to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which led her to become an activist. The loss of many friends to the disease motivated her to take action and advocate for the protection and rights of her community. In 1990s Brazil, Siqueira founded the Filadélfia group in Santos, the first Brazilian organization to demand that trans individuals’ social names be included in medical records. Her activism reached an international scale when she became a victim of human trafficking and was sold to an international prostitution network. However, Siqueira managed to escape by paying for her freedom, after which she moved to Switzerland. There, she rented apartments for sex workers, helping them break free from exploitative systems. Her international activism continued in France, where she exposed trafficking networks, leading to her arrest and imprisonment for two and a half years. Even in prison, Siqueira fought for her rights and the rights of her fellow trans inmates, demanding that they be recognized as female and provided with appropriate clothing.

 

In 2009, Siqueira moved to Rio de Janeiro, where she continued her activism in defense of sex workers and the LGBT+ community. In 2015, she founded CasaNem, a shelter in Rio that became a sanctuary for trans people in need. The shelter's success led to the establishment of a second CasaNem in Nova Iguaçu in 2020, collectively offering refuge to over 50 people. Siqueira’s commitment to activism also led her to enter politics. She ran for city council in Rio de Janeiro in both 2016 and 2020, under the banners of the PSOL (Socialism and Liberty Party) and the Workers’ Party, though she was elected as a substitute councilor in both campaigns. In 2019, Siqueira was expelled from PSOL, a decision that sparked controversy within Brazil's LGBT+ community. The party claimed that Siqueira's consolidation of CasaNem came at the expense of another activist space, Casa Nuvem, and involved violent expulsions of its founders. This incident resulted in public backlash and led to the departure of several key members from the party. As an activist, Siqueira has become a well-known figure in the struggle for the rights of trans and LGBT+ individuals. She is vocal in her critique of capitalism, a stance that has earned her recognition as a staunch anti-capitalist figure within the LGBT+ and leftist political communities. Siqueira’s veganism and anti-capitalist views are integral to her broader political ideology, which emphasizes social justice and equality for marginalized groups. 

 

Indianara Siqueira’s resilience and unwavering commitment to her community have made her an iconic figure in the fight for trans rights in Brazil. Through CasaNem and her activism, Siqueira has provided vital support to trans sex workers and other marginalized individuals, offering them a safe space and a sense of belonging in a society that often rejects them. Her story, as captured in "Aconchego da tua Mãe", is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the importance of fighting for social justice in the face of political oppression. As Brazil continues to grapple with political instability and rising far-right forces, Siqueira’s work remains more important than ever. In 2022, Siqueira achieved a significant personal milestone when she became one of the first people in Paraná to successfully change her official documents to reflect her non-binary gender identity. This victory represents not only a personal achievement but also a step forward for the broader trans community in Brazil, where access to legal recognition of gender identity remains a significant struggle. 

 

"Aconchego da tua Mãe" offers an intimate portrait of Indianara Siqueira’s life and activism, capturing her fight to protect CasaNem and the community she has built. The documentary highlights the harsh realities faced by trans individuals in Brazil, particularly those who are homeless or involved in sex work, while also showcasing the strength and determination of a woman who refuses to back down in the face of adversity. Indianara Siqueira’s work, both in the realm of activism and politics, continues to inspire change and push for greater recognition and rights for trans and LGBT+ people in Brazil and beyond.

 

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