Homophobic Hate Crimes Spreading Throughout Brazil

Alexandre Ivo, a 14-year-old boy, was tortured and killed in June 2010 in Rio de Janeiro.  Why? Because he was gay. Ms. Patricia Gomes and Ms.Sandra de Moraes, two female professors living in Parana, were killed in their own home in December of 2009.  Why? Because they were lovers.

Sao Paulo Gay Pride 2010

Although Sao Paulo hosted in 2010 the biggest gay parade in the world, with over 3.3 million people, Brazil suffers from one of the highest numbers of hate crimes in Latin America. The fear of homosexuality in the country is increasingly being expressed through horrific crimes nationwide, as reported by multiple sources.  The Latin-American Center on Sexuality and Human Rights has identified that the states of Parana and Bahia have the two highest numbers of crimes against homosexuals in the country and at least 15 people were killed in each Brazilian state in 2009, simply for being members of the LGBT community.  According to Senator Fatima Cleide, from the state of Rondonia, one person dies every two days, as a victim of homophobic crimes in Brazil. The Brazilian gay rights group Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB), which is funded by the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), estimates that between 1980 and 2009 well over 3,100 homosexuals were killed by hate crimes in the country.

Brazil is at a pivotal moment in its history.  The new administration can choose between allowing hate crimes to continue festering the nation’s stance towards human rights, or promote respect and equality for all.  Its neighboring country, Argentina, has already shown the world that progress is not only possible but it also ought to be considered imminent in Latin America. Brazilians can, if they decide to do so, show their leadership and put an end to homophobic hate crimes in the nation, reverse the titles held by Parana and Bahia, and become a promoter of equality.

While hundreds of people die every year based on hate crimes, Brazilian Congress has struggled since 2006 to approve legislation categorizing homophobic violence as crimes. Religious and conservative interests have proven to be strong and effective opponents to this human rights law.

Not only are Brazilian LGBTs treated as second-class citizens, but people are dying because of this.  Successful professionals, loving couples, and young boys and girls, among many others, are suffering of intolerance and are being killed because of the lack of action of society and legislators. It is an unfair reality.  The question I have for the readers and the country’s newly elected politicians is: When will ALL Brazilians be protected and have equal rights under law?

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

20 thoughts on “Homophobic Hate Crimes Spreading Throughout Brazil

  1. Pro homosexual & pro lesbian colonialism from USA must be resisted to the last –who are these gringos to enter out Latino Nations or Brasil & tell us we must serve their pro homoexuals beliefs?? Presidente Chavez has warned us all about these imperialists–resist them & thier decadence– we must not allow our women children & nations to become like the colonialist pro homosexual USA SUERTE A LOS MACHOS POR SIEMPRE BAJO EU

    • You are what's wrong in this world. Please don't have any children. The world does not need such ignorance nor any more generations that spread your vengeful hate and immoral views. GOD IS LOVE and you peasant are a poor example of what God represents

  2. Pro homosexual & pro lesbian colonialism from USA must be resisted to the last –who are these gringos to enter out Latino Nations or Brasil & tell us we must serve their pro homoexuals beliefs?? Presidente Chavez has warned us all about these imperialists–resist them & thier decadence– we must not allow our women children & nations to become like the colonialist pro homosexual USA SUERTE A LOS MACHOS POR SIEMPRE BAJO EU

  3. When will South Africans also be protected against bigotry, hate-crimes, belittling, intolerance, etc., from so-called straight (hypocrites) people?

  4. In what universe is the torture and murder of a child a brave resistance to imperialism or colonialism – especially given that this child was Brazilian?

  5. I can't understand how people can be so intolerant, I mean, it's 2010. I know man kind is still young, but this kind of irrational discrimination is so primitive it makes me sick. Humans that are so intolerant and close minded don't deserve to be qualified as intelligent life form.
    So what if it says that being homosexual is a sin in the bible? Are people not capable of thinking for there own? All you have to do is add 1+1 to realize that that makes no sense. It also says adultery and pre marital sex are a sin in the bible, as much as being homosexual, but you don't see people attacking adulterers, and I'm willing to bet my life that the same people that attack these homosexuals, and most the people that claim being homosexual is a sin, have engaged in pre marital sex! So according to the bible, they are just as much a sinner as the homosexuals.
    When will people stop being so blinded by religion? People love god more than people, and they let there belief in god make them hate other people. It's all just opinion, no one has the actual answers, so why can't people be tolerant? Why can't people just love each other regardless of religion?
    These religious bigots are keeping are world from having peace. If we all just love each other above anything else, and worked together we would have a much more peaceful and better working society.

  6. Unfortunately, I don't think the new administration (doesn't matter which one wins, both are pretty much the same) is going to lift a finger to this cause. Both parties have stated publicly they are against gay marriage and personally they haven't said a word during the whole campaign.

    In fact, there was an article circulating the streets, stating that one of the candidates was pro-choice, pro-abortion, pro-sustainability, etc.. The religious people went insane and the church (along with several civilians) started attacking the candidate. They found out that article was fake and was being used to shun people from voting for that candidate. The consequences? The candidate wrote an official letter claiming all of it was lie and they do not support or plan on doing anything on those topics.

    Not sure what's worst: These topics being considered so vile that it makes people stop voting for a person, or having the person publicly state the outrage of being accused of believing them.

    I'm straight, never hid my sexuality and never over exposed it. However, during my teen years I have been accused of being a lesbian and been discriminated for it. Why? Because since I did not fit the stereotype of how a girl my age should dress/act I was put on the same category. It never bothered me to be seen as a lesbian because I knew my sexual orientation just fine, what bothered me was the idea that thousands of people were suffering and being abused simply for who they chose to be with.

    Thanks AI for showing people that it doesn't matter if you are 10 thousand miles away from an issue, we still all live on Earth and we ALL deserve justice and dignified life.

  7. When will South Africans also be protected against bigotry, hate-crimes, belittling, intolerance, etc., from so-called straight (hypocrites) people?

  8. In what universe is the torture and murder of a child a brave resistance to imperialism or colonialism – especially given that this child was Brazilian?

  9. I can’t understand how people can be so intolerant, I mean, it’s 2010. I know man kind is still young, but this kind of irrational discrimination is so primitive it makes me sick. Humans that are so intolerant and close minded don’t deserve to be qualified as intelligent life form.
    So what if it says that being homosexual is a sin in the bible? Are people not capable of thinking for there own? All you have to do is add 1+1 to realize that that makes no sense. It also says adultery and pre marital sex are a sin in the bible, as much as being homosexual, but you don’t see people attacking adulterers, and I’m willing to bet my life that the same people that attack these homosexuals, and most the people that claim being homosexual is a sin, have engaged in pre marital sex! So according to the bible, they are just as much a sinner as the homosexuals.
    When will people stop being so blinded by religion? People love god more than people, and they let there belief in god make them hate other people. It’s all just opinion, no one has the actual answers, so why can’t people be tolerant? Why can’t people just love each other regardless of religion?
    These religious bigots are keeping are world from having peace. If we all just love each other above anything else, and worked together we would have a much more peaceful and better working society.

  10. Unfortunately, I don’t think the new administration (doesn’t matter which one wins, both are pretty much the same) is going to lift a finger to this cause. Both parties have stated publicly they are against gay marriage and personally they haven’t said a word during the whole campaign.

    In fact, there was an article circulating the streets, stating that one of the candidates was pro-choice, pro-abortion, pro-sustainability, etc.. The religious people went insane and the church (along with several civilians) started attacking the candidate. They found out that article was fake and was being used to shun people from voting for that candidate. The consequences? The candidate wrote an official letter claiming all of it was lie and they do not support or plan on doing anything on those topics.

    Not sure what’s worst: These topics being considered so vile that it makes people stop voting for a person, or having the person publicly state the outrage of being accused of believing them.

    I’m straight, never hid my sexuality and never over exposed it. However, during my teen years I have been accused of being a lesbian and been discriminated for it. Why? Because since I did not fit the stereotype of how a girl my age should dress/act I was put on the same category. It never bothered me to be seen as a lesbian because I knew my sexual orientation just fine, what bothered me was the idea that thousands of people were suffering and being abused simply for who they chose to be with.

    Thanks AI for showing people that it doesn’t matter if you are 10 thousand miles away from an issue, we still all live on Earth and we ALL deserve justice and dignified life.

  11. While love may be blind, justice ought not to be…

    Thank you for writing about this topic. It comes to me as a huge surprise. I was familiar with Sao Paulo's Gay Parade — I was one of the millions of people who marched in 2007 — but not with the severity of homophobic hate crimes in Brazil. Hopefully with articles such as this one, more and more people will recognize the importance of love, equality and justice.

  12. While love may be blind, justice ought not to be…

    Thank you for writing about this topic. It comes to me as a huge surprise. I was familiar with Sao Paulo’s Gay Parade — I was one of the millions of people who marched in 2007 — but not with the severity of homophobic hate crimes in Brazil. Hopefully with articles such as this one, more and more people will recognize the importance of love, equality and justice.

  13. Ola amigo,

    Gostaria de contar contigo; uma mao lava a outra e as duas lavam o rosto!

    .
    Meu nome: Rubens Onofrio
    Para representar os brasileiros perante o Consulado Brasileiro.
    Meu perfil esta no site.
    Eh soh clicar na barra azul pra votar, ou entrar no site do Consulado Brasileiro.
    http://crbe-funag.org/CRBE/votar.asp

    Pra votar pelo site, o link esta no final da primeira pagina do Consulado Brasilerio.
    http://www.brasileirosnomundo.mre.gov.br/pt-br/

    Votar ate dia 9 de novembro/2010.

    Repasse aos Amigos, pois quanto mais amigos votando tivermos, mais aumenta nossa forca!

    Estaremos Sempre Juntos na Caminhada!

  14. Ola amigo,

    Gostaria de contar contigo; uma mao lava a outra e as duas lavam o rosto!

    .
    Meu nome: Rubens Onofrio
    Para representar os brasileiros perante o Consulado Brasileiro.
    Meu perfil esta no site.
    Eh soh clicar na barra azul pra votar, ou entrar no site do Consulado Brasileiro.
    http://crbe-funag.org/CRBE/votar.asp

    Pra votar pelo site, o link esta no final da primeira pagina do Consulado Brasilerio.
    http://www.brasileirosnomundo.mre.gov.br/pt-br/

    Votar ate dia 9 de novembro/2010.

    Repasse aos Amigos, pois quanto mais amigos votando tivermos, mais aumenta nossa forca!

    Estaremos Sempre Juntos na Caminhada!

  15. Ola amigo,

    Gostaria de contar contigo; uma mao lava a outra e as duas lavam o rosto!

    .
    Meu nome: Rubens Onofrio
    Para representar os brasileiros perante o Consulado Brasileiro.
    Meu perfil esta no site.
    Eh soh clicar na barra azul pra votar, ou entrar no site do Consulado Brasileiro.
    http://crbe-funag.org/CRBE/votar.asp

    Pra votar pelo site, o link esta no final da primeira pagina do Consulado Brasilerio.
    http://www.brasileirosnomundo.mre.gov.br/pt-br/

    Votar ate dia 9 de novembro/2010.

    Repasse aos Amigos, pois quanto mais amigos votando tivermos, mais aumenta nossa forca!

    Estaremos Sempre Juntos na Caminhada!

  16. Ola amigo,

    Gostaria de contar contigo; uma mao lava a outra e as duas lavam o rosto!

    .
    Meu nome: Rubens Onofrio
    Para representar os brasileiros perante o Consulado Brasileiro.
    Meu perfil esta no site.
    Eh soh clicar na barra azul pra votar, ou entrar no site do Consulado Brasileiro.

    http://crbe-funag.org/CRBE/votar.asp

    Pra votar pelo site, o link esta no final da primeira pagina do Consulado Brasilerio.

    http://www.brasileirosnomundo.mre.gov.br/pt-br/

    Votar ate dia 9 de novembro/2010.

    Repasse aos Amigos, pois quanto mais amigos votando tivermos, mais aumenta nossa forca!

    Estaremos Sempre Juntos na Caminhada!

  17. People still cannot accept the fact that there are gays and lesbians living on earth. They are human too so please stop hating!

Comments are closed.