Brazil: Bolsonaro reportedly uses homophobic slur to mock masks

[Judi Lynn]

Top broadsheet says president taunted staffers wearing masks to protect against Covid-19 by claiming they were ‘for fairies’

Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro

Wed 8 Jul 2020 12.49 EDT

One day after announcing he had tested positive for coronavirus Jair Bolsonaro has come under fire for allegedly using homophobic language to mock the use of face masks.

The Folha de São Paulo, a leading broadsheet, claimed Brazil’s far-right leader had baited presidential staff who were using protective masks, claiming such equipment was “coisa de viado” (a homophobic slur that roughly translates as “for fairies”).

Bolsonaro is a longstanding enemy of Brazil’s LGBTQ+ community and during three decades in politics has made no secret of his homophobia.

“I have [parliamentary] immunity to say: yes, I’m homophobic – and very proud of it,” he said in one filmed interview during his seven-term stint as a congressman.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/bolsonaro-masks-slur-brazil-coronavirus

[JI7]

1. total trash

[Behind the Aegis]

2. He's a piece of shit.

I remember when Ellen Page interviewed him and found him repugnant then. Then again, homophobia is quite popular in Latin and South America, not that it has lost its "charm" here in the US. Don't like a far-right goon? Call him a "cocksucker", it's not homophobic, or so it has been 'splained to me. Bolsonaro made a homophobic remark? He must be a "secret" pole-smoker; or so goes the 'splanation. Yeah, he's a real POS, but attacking gays, especially gay men, is a past time for way too many in the 21st century.

[sandensea]

4. And just as in the US, in Lat Am it's a very good predictor of subscribing to right-wing politics.

Not that there aren't homophobes among centrist and left-wing voters - but in the more advanced South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay), to openly voice such sentiments, or to use slurs against an LGBT person, is mostly frowned upon among center/left-wing circles.

Not so among right-wing circles though. They consider gay/lesbian tropes and slurs high comedy - and if you don't laugh along, you're automatically suspect.

[sandensea]

3. Frankly, it's a shame he seems to have caught a mild case of Covid.

Because his vice president, Hamilton Mourão, while no liberal, would make a much better head of state than Bolso is.

God knows best, I suppose.

[Skittles]

5. so he is an insecure little man

just like Trump