Corpos que contam : uma etnografia sobre a Política Nacional de Saúde Integral LGBT.

Abstract

The present work was aimed in understanding the processes involved in the development of National Integral Health Policy for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, and Transsexuals (LGBT) in the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Data was collected by means of participative field observation conducted during about two years in the various levels of policy development in the federal district of Brasília. The observations focused primarily on the work performed by the Ministry s health technicians. In addition, semi-structured interviews were carried out in order to explore and articulate the understanding of the different actors engaged in the elaboration of policies to promote equity regarding strategic and participatory management and the LGBT health agenda. Results of the ethnographic data analyses reinforced the importance of the repetitive, routine work of the health technicians in systematizing the actions of the agenda as well as their role in informing the state administration operating practices about the special health needs of people of non-normative or non-conventional sexualities. The participant observation in the role of consultant as used in this work and referred to as consulting ethnography , allowed the researcher to reflect on political and administrative strategies which contribute to the formation of a vulnerable LGBT body . Moreover, these strategies support the understanding that the existence of LGBT health in the context of Brazilian health policies will only be possible when these needs of the LGBT community are officially recognized as genuine health issues.