What is the story of the fan, the main accessory of the LGBT+ Pride Parade?

Whether in a single shade, with prints or even featuring the colors of the rainbow, the fan has gone through centuries of history and gained enough strength to become one of the great protagonists of pop culture events, finding its deepest meaning in the hands of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In recent years, in a movement of cultural redefinition, the object is no longer a simple accessory to alleviate the heat. Adopted as a non-verbal communication tool and symbol of resistance, the act of opening and closing its stems has become its own language of empowerment.

Today, more than a piece of aesthetic composition or thermal relief, the fan carries the strength of a collective that, by occupying it as an extension of the body, celebrates identity, freedom and pride in belonging to a space conquered with courage and visibility.

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But, after all, what is the history of the fan?
According to information from the Brazilian Fashion Museum, shared by Google Arts & Culture, it is believed that the fan originated in China around the 7th century, although it had been portrayed since ancient times in wall paintings in Egypt, Assyria and Persia. Spread in Japan, the accessory was taken to Europe in the 15th century.

Born as a utilitarian instrument for making wind, the item had its social language definitively established in the French courts of the 18th century, mainly during the government of Kings Louis XIV and Louis XV. In various formats and luxurious materials, the fan became indispensable in society's clothing during the 19th century, being considered a strong symbol of luxury, status and elegance.

Already in Brazilian lands, its use spread in the 19th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family. D. João VI was responsible for introducing the custom of commemorative fans, which depicted important moments in the country's history.

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In the golden period, for example, the accessory was used by men and women, as an instrument of communication and flirtation between couples: depending on the positioning of the fan in relation to the body, a different message was sent.

The oldest specimens were made of noble materials, such as feathers and precious stones, leaves and even parchment. Later, they began to incorporate fabric, lace, silk, with painted bases, embroidered with sequins or gold and silver threads.

In the transition to the 20th century, fans gained a more commercial "face", becoming vehicles for advertising ideas to display distant messages on both sides - one for the bearer and the other for the observer.

Symbols in the LGBTQIA+ community
Gradually, the accessory became an important symbol of identity in the LGBTQIA+ community, strongly linked to the culture of nightclubs, parties, drag queens and, essentially, ballroom culture - a movement of resistance and celebration created in the 1970s, in New York, by black and Latin LGBTQIA+ people.

Far from being useful for alleviating the heat on the dance floor, the fan has become a performance item, since the act of opening and closing it in a rhythmic way produces a characteristic crack, the famous "clack", which, in addition to punctuating the choreographic steps, also attracts attention.

In the 2010s and, above all, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the object exploded in festivals, Carnival groups and pop shows. Some emblematic moments in recent years have consolidated this fever.

In 2022, with the release of the album "Renaissance", Beyoncé brought ballroom culture back to the mainstream. During his tour, the synchronous "tra" of fans in the performance of the song "Heated" was one of the most anticipated moments of the performance.

Beyoncé during the "Renaissance" tour - Instagram/Beyoncé
In 2024, the accessory was a constant presence in Madonna's audience, who performed a historic show on Copacabana beach, ending "The Celebration Tour".

There, the public "cut the air" rhythmically during the classic "Vogue".

Madonna adopted the use of fans during her shows - Instagram/Madonna
More recently, the item stole the show at Lady Gaga's performance in Rio de Janeiro. The accessory once again became a true extension of the audience, being beaten by thousands of fans in a display of energy and fervor.

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Source: CNN