Pollyana Nascimento Diedio, Rodrigo Dornelas, Kelly Cristina Alves Silverio, Vanessa Godoi, Akira Lima, Juliana Fernandes Godoy, Larissa Thaís Donalonso Siqueira
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of voice and communicative expressiveness on the lives of Brazilian gay men. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach conducted with cisgender gay men aged 18 years or older. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed based on discourse analysis. From the participants' reports, the results were organized into four thematic axes: (1) voice perception and socially perceived vocal characteristics; (2) communicative adjustments and vocal self-monitoring; (3) gesture, expressiveness, and ways of speaking; and (4) prejudice, social surveillance, and self-protection strategies. Twenty Brazilian gay men participated in the study and reported that their voices were often socially perceived as higher-pitched, more expressive, or divergent from socially normative expectations regarding masculinity. Participants also described communicative adjustments and vocal self-monitoring in environments perceived as hostile or judgmental, as well as experiences of prejudice related to vocal expression, gestures, and communicative behaviors. It is concluded that the voices of Brazilian gay men cannot be understood solely based on acoustic parameters and must also be analyzed in their social, identity-related, and symbolic dimensions, highlighting the multidimensionality of the human voice. These findings contribute to expanding Speech-Language Pathology's understanding of communicative diversity and may support more inclusive and culturally sensitive clinical practices for the LGBTQIAPN+ population.