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'The fact that the courses are open to all and not only the gay youth is part of our strategy to combat homophobia'
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Brazil opens its first gay school
The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo is to open the country's first gay school in March, and applications have already exceeded the number of places.
With funding from the Ministry of Culture and the government of Sao Paulo, Escola Jovem LGBT is intended to provide a safe place for gay teenagers to express themselves, while also learning about and promoting gay culture.
Located in the county of Campinas, the school will also welcome straight teenagers, and will provide free extracurricular lessons in dancing and the media, including the editorial production of fanzines.
Deco Ribeiro, director, said: "The school is a point of culture. The fact that the courses are open to all and not only the gay youth is part of our strategy to combat homophobia.
"We take our art to those who do not know us. If the appreciation of black culture is the strategy of the black movement, as well as various peoples and regions, why not enhance LGBT culture?"
The 60 vacancies have already been filled, but the school is currently recruiting teachers interested in setting up and implementing the curriculum.
