Homophobia works in different ways around the world, but its modus operandi very often is rooted in misogyny and toxic masculinity. The consequences for queer people are very commonly shame and self-hatred. We need to heal ourselves. Art and therapy can be important tools to deal with PTSD based on homophobic bullying.

Kris Barz Mendonça is a Brazilian Colorado-based queer artist. His body of work includes and merges illustration, comics, storytelling, drag and dance. Through art, he questions, challenges and reinterprets traditional gender roles, hetero-normativity and toxic masculinity, creating his own path to healing trauma caused by compulsory gay shaming and homophobic bullying.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx