CasaNem
CasaNem is a Brazilian shelter in Rio de Janeiro that houses LGBTQ people in situations of social vulnerability, mostly transgender and travesti individuals. It develops programs and activities in various areas, focusing on the autonomy and culture of its residents, in addition to providing services and offering workshops and courses.[1][2]
History
[edit]
CasaNem was founded by transfeminist activists, including Indianarae Siqueira. In February 2016, it began as an occupation of the property formerly belonging to the Casa Nuvem artistic collective, in the Lapa neighborhood.[3]
In 2018, following the eviction from the property, the CasaNem Stonewall Inn occupation was founded in the Copacabana neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.[4] Since then, CasaNem has occupied properties in the Lapa, Bonsucesso, and Vila Isabel neighborhoods. Currently, the occupation has the support of a network of volunteer collaborators such as psychologists, lawyers, teachers, and doctors. Furthermore, it is part of the Internationalist Homeless Front (FIST), which provides legal assistance in the process of reclaiming possession of the property.[5][6]
Over the years, CasaNem has faced evictions through repossession orders, some with reports of police brutality, until they reached an agreement with the state government to obtain permanent housing.[7][8][9] During their time in Copacabana in 2019, the presence of the shelter in the neighborhood and neighbors sometimes led them to call the police to try to remove the residents from the occupation, including on Christmas Eve when police went to the building several times during the early morning hours in response to complaints. During this period, CasaNem organized a four-day celebration called Desnatal (lit. 'Unchristmas'), aimed at welcoming LGBTQ people excluded from Christmas festivities, and hosted approximately 150 people, in addition to the building's residents.[10]
Occupation of the Almeida Rego building
[edit]Abandoned for over 18 years in 2019, the Almeida Rego building, occupied by CasaNem on Rua Dias da Rocha in Copacabana, housed a collection of artworks. The other members of the occupation discovered the pieces while cleaning the property and called the Federal Police and the National Museum, handing over all the works to the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) and the museum. According to Indianarae Siqueira:[11]
The place was completely abandoned, with several dead animals, pigeons, rats, stagnant water; it was a breeding ground for disease for the local population. And a lot of dirt; we removed eight dumpsters of garbage from this building, gave it a basic renovation to make it habitable, as there were windows that fell on pedestrians.
The action of the authorities and the presence of the press in front of the old building drew the attention of neighbors, and some residents said that the owner of the property is a woman who inherited it from her mother, who had been employed for years by the building's owner, both of whom are now deceased. After that, the administrator of the heir's estate went to court to reclaim the building.[12]
Among the artifacts found were busts, including one of Alberto Santos-Dumont, paintings, vases, stuffed animals, and animal and human remains. The director of the National Museum visited the site and said that some pieces could be part of future exhibitions. The remains, however, were investigated by the police. At the time, approximately 50 people were occupying CasaNem, including several families. Besides contacting the authorities, the occupants also attempted to legalize their electricity supply and contacted engineers and architects to assess the building's condition.[13] However, the Civil Court of Rio authorized the repossession of the property, evicting the occupants.[8]
Housing assignment
[edit]In 2020, residents managed to negotiate a temporary location while awaiting the transfer of a building from the Municipal Secretariat of Urbanism (SMU). At the time, the house occupied an abandoned building in Copacabana, but the property owners obtained a court order for repossession, which was enforced with the presence of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro. CasaNem was temporarily housed in a state school in the Copacabana neighborhood, which was possible thanks to the demands of the house's residents, who sought a peaceful relocation to another address.[2] The permanent space ceded by the State government is located in Flamengo, in the South Zone of the city, and has a five-year lease, which can be extended for another five years.[14]
On 15 March 2021, CasaNem was invaded, and the invaders were identified as family members of one of the residents. They made death threats against the residents during the incident.[15][16]
Projects
[edit]- PreparaNem: This was the organization's first project and started as a preparatory course for university entrance exams aimed at transgender people. It began in downtown Rio de Janeiro and expanded to include classes in Maré and Niterói. It has dozens of volunteer teachers and supporters.[17]
- Workshops in sewing and tailoring, Brazilian Sign Language classes, capoeira, photography, and art history.[17]
References
[edit]- ↑ Nunes, Brunella (12 August 2016). "Conheça a Casa Nem, um exemplo de amor, acolhimento e apoio a transexuais, travestis e transgêneros no RJ" [Discover Casa Nem, an example of love, acceptance, and support for transsexual, travesti, and transgender people in Rio de Janeiro]. Hypeness (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 Lisboa, Vinícius (24 August 2020). "Casa Nem muda para endereço provisório após reintegração de posse" [Casa Nem moves to temporary address after repossession]. Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Nonvieri, Liège (26 August 2023). "ANARQUISMO QUEER: DE 1890 A 2020" [QUEER ANARCHIM: FROM 1890 TO 2020]. READ – Revista de Estudos Anarquistas e Decoloniais (in Portuguese). 3 (2): 89–118. ISSN 2764-7854 – via Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
- ↑ Navarro, José Gabriel (25 December 2020). "Covid-19 eleva pressão sobre população LGBTI+ desabrigada" [Covid-19 increases pressure on homeless LGBTI+ population]. dw.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Borges, Waleska (16 January 2020). "Casa Nem acolhe população LGBTI, em Copacabana, mas teme despejo" [Casa Nem shelters LGBTI residents in Copacabana, but fears eviction]. O Dia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Cortêz, Natacha (25 August 2022). "Em Copacabana, ocupação oferece acolhimento e refúgio para LGBTQs em situação de vulnerabilidade" [In Copacabana, an occupied building offers shelter and refuge for LGBTQ individuals in vulnerable situations]. Marie Claire (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Caetano, Larissa (12 July 2019). "Assistidos pela Casa Nem relatam desocupação truculenta de imóvel usado como abrigo em Vila Isabel" [People assisted by Casa Nem report a violent eviction from a property used as a shelter in Vila Isabel]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 Soupin, Elisa (28 July 2020). "Casa Nem, que acolhe LGBTs no Rio, sofre ordem de reintegração de posse" [Casa Nem, a shelter for LGBT people in Rio de Janeiro, faces an eviction order]. Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Casa Nem é alvo de reintegração de posse; moradores ficarão em outro local" [Casa Nem is the target of a repossession order; residents will be relocated]. Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Cozzolino, Sarah (26 December 2019). "No Rio, Casa Nem é refúgio para LGBTs excluídos das famílias nas festas de fim de ano" [In Rio, Casa Nem is a refuge for LGBT people excluded from their families during the end-of-year holidays]. Época (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ ""Faço o trabalho que o governo deveria fazer": fundadora da Casa Nem luta por abrigo de LGBTIs no Rio após despejo" ["I do the work that the government should be doing": founder of Casa Nem fights for shelter for LGBTI people in Rio after eviction]. Universo Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Platonow, Vladimir (22 July 2019). "Iphan avalia patrimônio achado em prédio abandonado no Rio" [Iphan evaluates heritage found in abandoned building in Rio]. Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Rubim, Maíra (24 July 2019). "Obras de arte encontradas em prédio abandonado em Copacabana vão ser retiradas pelo Iphan nesta quarta-feira" [Artwork found in an abandoned building in Copacabana will be removed by Iphan this Wednesday]. O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Lucena, Felipe (10 September 2020). "Governo do Estado do Rio cede imóvel para abrigar a Casa Nem" [The Rio de Janeiro State Government has provided a property to house Casa Nem]. Diário do Rio de Janeiro (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Organização de direitos LGBTIQ+ CasaNem é invadida" [LGBTIQ+ rights organization CasaNem is raided]. Front Line Defenders (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Moradores da Casa Nem acusam pais de jovem trans de agressões, ameaça e invasão" [Residents of Casa Nem accuse parents of young trans girl of assault, threats, and trespassing]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 Vieira, André (28 April 2016). "Casa Nem: a preparada da Lapa, no Rio" [Casa Nem: the well-prepared one in Lapa, Rio]. Brasil de Fato (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 23 July 2026.