Today is the 5th of July, the day after the independence of the United States celebrations. The party’s excesses somewhat limit my cognitive ability to formulate ideas. Still, I’m aware that we don’t have much to celebrate.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, independence is “the freedom to organize your own life, make your own decisions, etc., without needing help from other people.”

The latest events in the country where I live and Brazil worry me. Mainly because when we talk about losing rights, we always talk about less powerful spheres of society, such as women and immigrants.

I am a woman, a lesbian, and an immigrant. When conservative movements gain strength, people like me lose their independence. In these moments, I feel unprotected and believe I must be on the streets, as I was at the LGBTQ+ pride marches last weekend, claiming my existence.

After the party, wine, and fireworks, we must recognize: that some people don’t believe in lives like mine, even when they benefit from our existence. Far beyond “groups,” we are individuals. We are the artists who thrill on Sunday nights, the designers who make everyday life more accessible, the developers who solve complex problems, and the musicians, mathematicians, and waiters. As so, we complete, with our sweat and dedication, a complex chain of workers who pay taxes, vote, and contribute to the nation’s advancement.

We cannot speak of independence when a woman does not own her own body, legitimate vows are questioned, and marriages are threatened.