Abstract
This article discusses experiences of coming out to the family of origin between gays and lesbians, based on participant observation and interviews conducted in the city of Belo Horizonte, between 2017 and 2018. The study explores meanings and effects of silence experienced in the everyday life of households after the revelation of homosexual orientation for the family, considering how it takes part in micropolitical disputes. We argue that the plural forms by which silences can be constituted, perceived and narrated are articulated with the constitution of social places and social distances in the family, located within broader political-cultural contexts.
Key words:
homosexuality; family; silence; micropolitics; social distance