Brazil Is Hosting South America's First LGBT Surf Camp

Want to explore the Brazilian coast and learn how to handle a board? GaySurfers.net has joined with Brazil Ecojourneys to bring an LGBT surf camp to Santa Catarina, Brazil.

The week of surf lessons, from October 25 - November 1, includes yoga, breakfast, accommodations, a "surfari," so guests can explore the southern coast of Santa Catarina, and more, according to GaySurfers.net. Thomas Castets, the founder of the website, said participants of an online survey expressed interest in organized gay surf trips.

“We found that gay surfers really wanted us to create surf trips with other gay surfers,” said Castets in a release. “So we partnered with Brazil Ecojourneys to organize a week of surfing, relaxing, and yoga in the gorgeous town of Praia do Rosa in South Brazil. After a successful first run last year, we knew we had to do it again in 2014.”

Castets founded GaySurfers.net to combat homophobia within the sport.The site aims to improve public awareness of LGBT surfers and to improve the images of the LGBT community by “showing that gay people actively participate in a variety of sub-cultures within society, including surfing."

“We are all quite aware of the prejudice and discrimination against LGBT people in sports, but I hadn’t necessarily considered surfing as one of the last “bastions” of homophobia. Watching [the documentary] Out in the Line-Up was a real eye-opener, which inspired our company to reach out and partner with GaySurfers,” said Marta Dalla Chiesa of Brazil Ecojourneys in a release. “We organized the first-ever LGBT Surf Camp in Brazil last year and it was totally amazing.”

To see the full itinerary for surf camp, click here.