Case Study: Associação Brasileira de Turismo para Gays, Lésbicas e Simpatizantes (ABRAT GLS)—Deepening Social Inclusion, Reducing Discrimination, and Promoting Business Through LGBT Tourism

To build a bridge between Brazil’s tourist attractions and the traditional hostile attitudes toward LGBT individuals, the Associação Brasileira de Turismo (ABRAT) para Gays, Lésbicas e Simpatizantes, or the Brazilian Association of Tourism for Gays, Lesbians, and Allies, was founded in 2004. The association’s charge is to stimulate business for its members by increasing the number of tourism, leisure, and entertainment consumers in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) market, and fostering a respect for diversity. ABRAT believes that through the promotion of commercial exchanges, tourism, and leisure for the LGBT community, it can deepen social inclusion and fight prejudice and discrimination.