André Filipe Oliveira
24 years old · Bragança (from there; studying in Porto)
Psychology student + part-time waiter
Persona: LGBTQ+ Young Person Interior
André Filipe Oliveira
Quick Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | André Filipe Oliveira |
| Age | 24 |
| Gender | Male (gay) |
| Location | Bragança (from there; studying in Porto) |
| Occupation | Psychology student + part-time waiter |
| Education | Completing licenciatura (University of Porto) |
| Housing | Shared student apartment in Porto (€300/month) |
| Family | Parents in Bragança (father mechanic, mother homemaker), younger sister (20) |
| Voter Status | Portuguese citizen - can vote |
Background Narrative
André knew he was different from childhood, though he didn't have words for it until his teens. Growing up gay in Bragança—a small, traditional city in Trás-os-Montes—meant hiding, performing, pretending. He told himself he'd leave as soon as he could.
Coming out to his parents at 18 was brutal. His father didn't speak to him for months. His mother cried and asked where she went wrong. Eventually, they reached a fragile peace—his sexuality is never discussed, partners are never brought home, everyone pretends. He loves them but can't be himself around them.
Porto was liberation. Gay friends, LGBTQ+ spaces, anonymity. He started dating openly, joined university groups, breathed. But holidays in Bragança mean going back into the closet, hearing relatives' jokes, seeing Chega posters that feel personally threatening.
He's studying psychology, partly to understand himself, partly to help others like him. The rise of Chega terrifies him—the rhetoric about "traditional families," the disdain for what he is. Emigration is on his mind, not for money but for safety. Countries where being gay isn't political.
Economic Situation
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income level | Low (€350/month part-time + parents help €200) |
| Income source | Part-time service work + family support |
| Financial stress | Moderate (student, limited but managing) |
| Housing cost burden | 55% of own income |
| Economic trajectory | Uncertain—degree pending |
Values Profile (Schwartz Framework)
Higher-Order Values
| Dimension | Rating | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Transcendence | 5 | Strong universalism; equality, acceptance for all |
| Self-Enhancement | 2 | Not status-seeking; just wants to live authentically |
| Openness to Change | 5 | Embraces diversity, new experiences, self-discovery |
| Conservation | 1 | Tradition has been oppressive; resists conformity |
Specific Values (Top 3 priorities)
- Universalism: Equality, acceptance, human rights for all
- Self-Direction: Freedom to be himself; authenticity
- Benevolence: Wants to help others facing similar struggles
Moral Politics Frame (Lakoff)
Primary frame: Nurturant Parent (strong)
Expression: André believes in a society that nurtures and accepts everyone, especially those who are different. He sees conservative "family values" as harmful to people like him and believes empathy should guide politics.
Information Ecosystem
| Source Type | Specific Sources | Trust Level |
|---|---|---|
| TV | Rarely—sometimes with parents | Low |
| Online | Público, international LGBTQ+ news, Instagram | Medium-High |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok | High |
| None | N/A | |
| Community | University LGBTQ+ group, friends, online communities | Very High |
Media consumption pattern: Digital native. Instagram and Twitter for news, community connection. Follows LGBTQ+ activists and international rights organizations. Gets Portuguese news through feeds.
Political Profile
Voting History
| Election | Vote | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Legislative | BE | "Most consistently pro-LGBTQ+" |
| 2022 Legislative | BE | "Clear on rights" |
| 2021 Presidential | Ana Gomes | "Progressive, principled" |
| Historical pattern | Progressive left, rights-focused |
Political Identity
- Left-Right self-placement: 2/10 (firmly left)
- Party identification: BE sympathizer, broadly progressive left
- Political engagement: High—votes, protests, activist involvement
2026 Presidential Inclination
- Current leaning: Catarina Martins (strong)
- Certainty: Certain
- Key deciding factors: LGBTQ+ rights, blocking Chega, progressive values
Top Concerns (Ranked)
- LGBTQ+ rights: "Chega talks about us like we're a disease. What happens if they get power?"
- Family acceptance: "My parents love me but can't accept who I am. That never stops hurting."
- Emigration pressure: "Should I stay and fight or go somewhere I can just live?"
- Interior decline: "Bragança is dying. My family will be alone there."
- Economic future: "Psychology jobs aren't well paid. How do I build a life?"
Hopes
For himself:
"I want to love openly without fear. To have a partner I can introduce to my family. To help others who are struggling like I did."
For Portugal:
"I hope Portugal stays tolerant. That Chega remains marginal. That the next generation doesn't have to hide like I did."
For the interior:
"I hope places like Bragança don't become Chega territory. That small towns can be home for everyone, not just the traditional majority."
Fears
Personal fears:
"That rights we won get taken away. That I have to leave Portugal to be safe. That my parents never fully accept me."
Fears for Portugal:
"A Chega government. Emboldened homophobes. Going backwards on everything we fought for."
Deepest fear (often unspoken):
"That there's no place for me. Not in Bragança, not really in Portugal. That being gay means always being slightly unsafe."
"In Their Own Voice"
How he'd describe Portugal today:
"Portugal made real progress—marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, visibility. But Chega reminds us it can all be reversed. When Ventura talks about 'traditional families,' he means families without people like me. Every vote for Chega feels personal."
What he'd say to someone who disagrees with him politically:
"You might think LGBTQ+ rights are about ideology. For me, it's about whether I can hold my boyfriend's hand in my hometown. Whether I can introduce him to my grandmother. Whether I'm safe. This isn't abstract—it's my life."
His message to politicians:
"Don't use us as a wedge issue. Don't promise equality while courting our opponents. And don't tell us progress is inevitable—progress can be undone. Protect what we've won."
Scenario Response Predictions
| Candidate | Predicted Response | Key Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura | Strongly Negative | Existential threat; will mobilize against |
| Gouveia e Melo | Mixed | Unknown on social issues; military culture worries |
| Marques Mendes | Negative | Traditional right; might compromise with Chega |
| Seguro | Neutral-Positive | Better on rights, but not priority |
| Catarina Martins | Strongly Positive | Clear ally; will vote enthusiastically |
| Cotrim Figueiredo | Neutral | Liberal on social issues, but economic focus |
| António Filipe | Positive | PCP supports rights; older but principled |
Notes for Scenario Development
- Interior vs. city duality—closet at home, out in Porto
- Family relationship as ongoing tension
- Chega rise as personal threat narrative
- Student/precarity layered with identity
- Could interact with: parents (difficult conversations), boyfriend, LGBTQ+ community, hometown acquaintances
- In "Day in the Future" vignettes: going home for holidays, LGBTQ+ spaces in Porto, watching election results, deciding whether to stay or emigrate