A Praça da (Nova) República: travestis, homossexuais e o “povo paraense” no Diário do Pará (1982-1989)

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the representations of travestis and homosexuals who frequented Praça da República in Belem do Pará between 1982 and 1989. We use the newspaper Diário do Pará as our primary source. This study investigates how these groups were portrayed as a "threat" to society, which was addressed through police operations such as the "Purge of Addicts" (Expurgo dos Viciados), also known as the "Gay Power Crackdown Operation", coordinated by the State and the press. Our goal is to analyze the narrative constructions in these news reports, focusing on the strategic use of the term "the people" to justify hygienist measures. These measures intersected with issues of race, class, gender, profession, and sexuality, which contributed to the implementation of policies aimed at the marginalization of these groups. The term "New Republic" (Nova República) refers not only to the emergence of democratic governance in Brazil but also to its complex relationship with homosexuals and travestis, as well as to the tourist attractions in Belém that both locals and visitors frequented. Therefore, our investigation relies on historical press reports from that era while also engaging with cultural social history, as well as studies of gender and sexuality, to deepen our understanding of this issue.