Rosely Roth

Who was Rosely Roth?

Rosely Roth is considered one of the pioneers in the history of the LGBT movement of Brazil.

Born of Jewish parents, she attended both Jewish and non-Jewish schools while growing up in her native São Paulo. In 1981 she obtained a degree in Philosophy from the Pontífica Universidade Católica de São Paulo; and in 1985-1986 she graduated again from the same university with a degree in Anthropology, having dedicated her studies on lesbian life and sexuality in São Paulo.

Roth started her direct participation in the women's movement at the start of 1981 by attending meetings at the Grupo Lésbico Feminista and at the SOS Mulher.

Still in 1981, Roth and Miriam Martinho, another pioneer of the Brazilian LGBT movement, founded the Grupo Ação Lésbica-Feminista - GALF in São Paulo.

Roth was involved in many organizations and activities demanding sexual freedom and equal rights for lesbians and all members of the LGBT community during most of her adult life. She was particularly active in bringing visibility to related issues in the local and national media when the LGBT movement was still in its infancy in Brazil.