The Supreme Court in Brazil has acted swiftly to uphold LGBTQ rights and quash attempts at censorship.
On Thursday, the evangelical Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Crivella, announced he wanted a Marvel comic book banned from sale at the Rio International Book Biennial.
The reason? The graphic novel, Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, features a same-sex kiss between two characters: Boyfriends Hulkling and Wiccan.
Related: “Mayor bans ‘Avengers’ comic book from book festival over gay kiss”
Crivella wanted the book, which he said was unsuitable for minors, wrapped in black plastic so no-one could flick through it without knowing about its content. On Friday, he sent in authorities to confiscate the book. However, by this time, the novel had already sold out.
The Mayor’s decision was initially supported by one of the country’s lower courts, prompting international headlines.
Local LGBTQ advocates and allies criticized the move. A YouTuber, Felipe Neto, even bought 14,000 copies of books with LGBTQ themes at the Rio fair, placed them in plain black wrappers, and distributed them at the event with a warning sticker saying (in Portuguese): “Book inappropriate for backward … and prejudiced people.”
Related: “Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro slams nation’s gay tourism as affront to “families”“
Advocates of free speech also criticized the move. On Saturday, Brazil’s biggest newspaper, Folha de S.Paulo, ran a story about the ban on its front page. It included a large image of the two Marvel characters kissing that had so offended Crivella. This ensured it was seen widely across the country.
Esta é capa da #Folha deste sábado (7). Acesse https://t.co/OUrEFevL3e para ler mais. #folha #folhadespaulo #fsp pic.twitter.com/wru197Gpzi
— Folha de S.Paulo (@folha) September 7, 2019
Yesterday, Brazil’s Supreme Court overruled the mayor’s decision, saying it was illegal because it targeted only LGBTQ books. The ruling ensures that the novel, and similar LGBTQ material, can continue to be sold.
Crivella says his motivation was not targeting LGBTQ people. He yesterday tweeted a video claiming that his attempt to ban the book was “not censorship or homophobia as many people think”. Instead, he reiterated he just wanted to protect minors and defend Brazilian families.
Não é censura nem homofobia como muitos pensam. A questão envolvendo os gibis na Bienal tem um objetivo bem claro: cumprir o que prevê o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente. Queremos, apenas, preservar nossas crianças, lutar em defesa das famílias brasileiras e cumprir a Lei. pic.twitter.com/CsWte3nsLG
— Marcelo Crivella (@MCrivella) September 8, 2019
Hussain-TheCanadian
This issue was seriously taken all the way up to Brazil’s supreme court? I didnt realize that Brazil has absolutely zero economic and social woes that should be focused on.
#freelula
Rocinante
Free speech here in the US used to be far more important than any other issue, Brazil’s Constitution gives a lot of weight to free speech as well and your statement is rather dumb. The enforcement of individual rights guaranteed by, in the case of the US, the Bill of Rights, should never have a price tag associated with its enforcement. I would rather see the whole country in the worst depression of all time than see our civil rights abused.
Your mentality is what drives fascism.
Dornornoston
Sorry buddy but fight Brazilian LGBTQphobia is more important than freed Lula. Brazil is the country with the highest violence rate against trans people, people die just because they are LGBTQ+. Although Lula’s imprisonment was political, he’s no saint
Hussain-TheCanadian
@ Rocinante
Firstly I never brought up “free speech”, I’m criticizing the prioritization of this politician.
Secondly, you hiding behind “free speech” is as flimsy and ridiculous as wishing being in a depression rather than having your privileges taken away, a privilege that can be taken at anytime.
Thirdly, free speech, as a concept, was introduced to criticize the state without any repercussions. You having no problem using it against the weak and vulnerable is quite telling.
BTW…………How many guns do you have stored in you’re basement?
#freeLula
karl schroeder
The right of free speech is one of the most important rights we have – in any country.
djmcgamester
Those two have been a couple since 2005 when “Young Avengers” first appeared. Time to get over it.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Pretty sure there needing to be more protecting of minors from this noxious reprehensive puke than a comic book…
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FU QUEERTY!