Traveling in Bahia as a Black person was healing. After a short time back to Rio, I quickly understood why.
It was the first time in my life that I spent that many weeks in a row without experiencing a single microaggression. Weeks without having to educate anyone. Weeks without protecting myself or having to shut down to not ruin the vibe. Weeks without having to quietly process anger or sadness due to inappropriate comments I was required to deal with. I felt a different kind of vitality in Bahia, the kind that comes when your energy isn’t constantly being channeled into managing other people’s ignorance.
For the first time, I wasn’t overthinking being a Black body in a queer space, or a queer person in a Black space. My whole self was there, unapologetic, unfragmented, and not just accepted, but celebrated.
Weeks without uncomfortable words.
Weeks without strange looks.
Weeks without feeling like the “different” one in the room.
Traveling to Bahia was healing because it was the first time I was able to truly relax somewhere as a queer Black person.
Thank you Bahia 🫶🏾
