Forus shines a spotlight on the significant contributions of our network members during Pride Month. This year, we celebrate the dedication and innovative actions undertaken by ABONG Brasil and Movimiento Chileno de la Diversidad Sexual y de Género (MOVILH Chile), of Forus member Acción.

ABONG Brasil: Trans and Non-Binary Leadership

ABONG Brasil, in partnership with ANTRA and ABGLT, spearheaded the impactful Project Pajuba. In June, this initiative hosted an immersive program that brought together 20 trans, travesti, and non-binary leaders from 17 Brazilian states. Titled "TRANSformando lideranças: da visibilidade a ação política” (TRANSforming leaderships: from visibility to political action), the program offered a series of training activities during São Paulo's Diversity Week.

Project Pajuba's primary objective is to strengthen the LGBTQIA+ organizational ecosystem. The training provided a welcoming space for sharing knowledge and experiences. Participants engaged in workshops focused on resource mobilization, project development, and creative economy. They also actively participated in the LGBTQIAP+ Pride Parade and the Walk of Lesbian and Bisexual Women in São Paulo. Further discussions delved into critical topics such as climate justice, energy transition, and the LGBTQIA+ population, as well as technology, access to rights, online well-being, and education with an intersectional lens. This comprehensive approach underscores ABONG's commitment to nurturing leadership and advocating for holistic change within the LGBTQIA+ community.

You can check their newsletter here (in Portuguese).  

MOVILH Chile: Driving Diversity on the Streets of Santiago

A powerful initiative by MOVILH Chile, shared by Forus member Acción, the "Bus de la Diversidad" (Diversity Bus), made its return to the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, five years after its first appearance. This revival comes with a clear message: "Enough hate speech against LGBTIQ+ persons!" The urgency of this message is underscored by a staggering 116.9% increase in such discourses over the past year.

As a concrete and educational response to this reality, the Diversity Bus took to the streets, delivering vital information, visibility, and tools to combat discrimination. On June 27, the bus visited numerous communes including Cerro Navia, El Bosque, La Pintana, Lo Espejo, Puente Alto, Ñuñoa, and Santiago. During its journey, thousands of informative materials were distributed, alongside the first Chilean manual specifically designed to prevent hate speech.

Adorned with powerful slogans like “To be and to love is not ideology, it's part of my identity” and “We may not understand, but we always respect,” the vehicle was met with positive reception by local diversity offices and authorities. This impactful day was made possible through the collaboration with the representative of the Network of Diverse Municipalities, and the steadfast support of the Government of Santiago via the "Fondo Comunidad Activa”. 

Beyond the "Bus de la Diversidad," MOVILH Chile also had a strong presence at ORGULLO 2025 in Santiago, actively participating in the main Pride celebrations. You can see a gallery of photos from their work and presence at Pride by visiting this link.

The efforts of both ABONG Brasil and MOVILH Chile are models for advancing LGBTQ+ rights and ensuring that the message of equality resonates far beyond the confines of traditional Pride celebrations. Discover our March With Us campaign for more on the Forus network’s work in Reclaiming and Redifining power and partnerships.