Natalia Becattini, a musician at one of the city’s blocos, said the revival was clearly a political moment. “It was a political process, a left-wing revolt,” she noted.
Fernanda Blanco Porce is a member of Track do Decejo, a brocoin belo horizontalte created for members of the lesbian, bisexual, and trans community. According to news agency Polse, Belo Horizonte’s carnival began as part of a protest movement against the former mayor. After the mayor banned the city’s main square from being used as a festival venue, protesters wearing bikinis and carrying bullhorns occupied the area. “Since then, it has been a carnival of fighting and resistance,” Polse said.
Ironically, the city government is now starting to get involved in Carnival, but this is not welcomed by all Brocosas. “It’s as if they are trying to appropriate a spontaneous and popular event to somehow standardize our carnival,” Polse said. The state of Minas Gerais made its first investment in Carnival infrastructure and spent more than R$6 million on advertising across Brazil with the slogan “Feel at home on the streets of Belo Horizonte.” In a move that appeared to be aimed at enraging Rio residents and ensuring the ad went viral, the poster was also plastered on billboards in Rio’s subway.
But Belo Horizonte’s Carnival’s newfound popularity among hip Brazilians isn’t just the result of clever advertising. Gustavo Jreige is the host of Festa VHS, his popular LGBTQ+ party in São Paulo. He usually spends Carnival in São Paulo, but this year he’s heading to Beaga. Jayreige says Belo Horizonte is the perfect place. Well organized but not overly selective. It’s big, but not very established yet.