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Brazil must not become a 'gay tourism paradise', says Bolsonaro | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Brazil’s far-right president, the self-declared homophobe Jair Bolsonaro, has been accused of inciting hatred towards LGBT people after declaring the South American country should not become a “gay tourism paradise”. | Brazil’s far-right president, the self-declared homophobe Jair Bolsonaro, has been accused of inciting hatred towards LGBT people after declaring the South American country should not become a “gay tourism paradise”. |
“If you want to come here and have sex with a woman, go for your life,” Bolsonaro reportedly told journalists in the capital, Brasília. “But we can’t let this place become known as a gay tourism paradise. Brazil can’t be a country of the gay world, of gay tourism. We have families,” Bolsonaro added, according to the Brazilian magazine Exame. | “If you want to come here and have sex with a woman, go for your life,” Bolsonaro reportedly told journalists in the capital, Brasília. “But we can’t let this place become known as a gay tourism paradise. Brazil can’t be a country of the gay world, of gay tourism. We have families,” Bolsonaro added, according to the Brazilian magazine Exame. |
The comments – made during a breakfast meeting with Brazilian reporters – sparked an immediate reaction from LGBT campaigners. | The comments – made during a breakfast meeting with Brazilian reporters – sparked an immediate reaction from LGBT campaigners. |
“This is not a head of state – this is a national disgrace,” said David Miranda, a leftist congressman and LGBT activist. Miranda said the president’s remarks simultaneously endangered members of Brazil’s LGBT community by “putting a target on their backs” and promoted the sexual exploitation of Brazilian women. | “This is not a head of state – this is a national disgrace,” said David Miranda, a leftist congressman and LGBT activist. Miranda said the president’s remarks simultaneously endangered members of Brazil’s LGBT community by “putting a target on their backs” and promoted the sexual exploitation of Brazilian women. |
“He is staining the image of our country in every imaginable way,” Miranda said. | “He is staining the image of our country in every imaginable way,” Miranda said. |
Renan Quinalha, a São Paulo-based lawyer and LGBT activist, said: “It is a disastrous declaration, both from the human rights point of view and with regards to Brazil’s international image.” | Renan Quinalha, a São Paulo-based lawyer and LGBT activist, said: “It is a disastrous declaration, both from the human rights point of view and with regards to Brazil’s international image.” |
He added that the comments “give a green light to already alarming levels of violence against the LGBT community” by suggesting that only heterosexual families were genuine families. “All this demonstrates is … something that he has made consistently clear over nearly 30 years of public life: that he is a homophobe,” Quinalha said. | He added that the comments “give a green light to already alarming levels of violence against the LGBT community” by suggesting that only heterosexual families were genuine families. “All this demonstrates is … something that he has made consistently clear over nearly 30 years of public life: that he is a homophobe,” Quinalha said. |
In a video posted on Twitter, Jean Wyllys, another prominent LGBT campaigner, said the comments incited hatred against minorities. | In a video posted on Twitter, Jean Wyllys, another prominent LGBT campaigner, said the comments incited hatred against minorities. |
“With this unhappy declaration and this unhappy gesture against the LGBT community, Bolsonaro is simply being Bolsonaro,” added Wyllys, who fled into exile in January after receiving death threats. | “With this unhappy declaration and this unhappy gesture against the LGBT community, Bolsonaro is simply being Bolsonaro,” added Wyllys, who fled into exile in January after receiving death threats. |
Bolsonaro’s election last October stunned members of Brazil’s LGBT community, who fear his election has legitimised a new wave of homophobia and homophobic violence. | Bolsonaro’s election last October stunned members of Brazil’s LGBT community, who fear his election has legitimised a new wave of homophobia and homophobic violence. |
Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has long been notorious for his homophobic comments, once declaring: “Yes, I’m homophobic – and very proud of it.” | Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has long been notorious for his homophobic comments, once declaring: “Yes, I’m homophobic – and very proud of it.” |
During a 2013 interview with the British actor Stephen Fry, Bolsonaro claimed “homosexual fundamentalists” were brainwashing heterosexual children to “become gays and lesbians to satisfy them sexually in the future”. | During a 2013 interview with the British actor Stephen Fry, Bolsonaro claimed “homosexual fundamentalists” were brainwashing heterosexual children to “become gays and lesbians to satisfy them sexually in the future”. |
He told Fry “Brazilian society doesn’t like homosexuals.” The actor later described the encounter as “one of the most chilling confrontations I’ve ever had with a human being”. | He told Fry “Brazilian society doesn’t like homosexuals.” The actor later described the encounter as “one of the most chilling confrontations I’ve ever had with a human being”. |
Brazil replaces far-right education minister with conspiracy theorist | Brazil replaces far-right education minister with conspiracy theorist |
Bolsonaro’s remarks are the latest blow to longstanding Brazilian attempts to build an international reputation as a tolerant and inclusive society, as well as to efforts to promote Brazil as a welcoming destination for gay tourists. | Bolsonaro’s remarks are the latest blow to longstanding Brazilian attempts to build an international reputation as a tolerant and inclusive society, as well as to efforts to promote Brazil as a welcoming destination for gay tourists. |
Bolsonaro’s international ostracism was highlighted earlier this month when a high-profile campaign by environmentalists forced the cancellation of a gala honouring him at New York’s natural history museum. | Bolsonaro’s international ostracism was highlighted earlier this month when a high-profile campaign by environmentalists forced the cancellation of a gala honouring him at New York’s natural history museum. |
New York mayor Bill de Blasio backed the campaign and branded Bolsonaro “a very dangerous human being”. | New York mayor Bill de Blasio backed the campaign and branded Bolsonaro “a very dangerous human being”. |
Brazilian LGBT activists said they shared that assessment but would not be intimidated by Bolsonaro’s latest attack. | Brazilian LGBT activists said they shared that assessment but would not be intimidated by Bolsonaro’s latest attack. |
Bolsonaro's motorbike escapade provokes helmet backlash | Bolsonaro's motorbike escapade provokes helmet backlash |
“We believe love will always win against hate and there is nothing that he can do to beat that,” said Julio Moreira, an activist from Rio-based advocacy group Arco-Íris. “We will never ever return to the closet.” | “We believe love will always win against hate and there is nothing that he can do to beat that,” said Julio Moreira, an activist from Rio-based advocacy group Arco-Íris. “We will never ever return to the closet.” |
Miranda said: “I feel a duty to fight against this kind of speech to show that LGBT people exist in this country and that they will fight against this LGBT-phobic president. You can be certain that we will resist and we will resist in the streets.” | Miranda said: “I feel a duty to fight against this kind of speech to show that LGBT people exist in this country and that they will fight against this LGBT-phobic president. You can be certain that we will resist and we will resist in the streets.” |
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