Brazil’s first openly gay MP quits and flees over death threats
Jean Wyllys says his reputation has been ‘destroyed by lies’ amid increasing homophobia under new president Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil’s first and only gay congressperson has announced that he is stepping down and has left the country in response to death threats against him.
Jean Wyllys made the announcement in an interview published yesterday in Brazilian newpaper Folha de S.Paulo that has been translated by Deutsche Welle.
The 44-year-old was re-elected to Congress in October last year and was to begin his third term as a representative for Rio de Janeiro next month. But he told the Sao Paulo-based newspaper that he will not return to Parliament nor to Brazil, claiming his career and reputation had been “destroyed by lies” and fake news.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wyllys said that threats on his life has increased since the murder last March of his friend, lesbian Rio de Janeiro councilperson Marielle Franco.
“This was not an easy decision, and it involved a lot of pain, because I am also giving up being close to my family, my dear friends, and the people who love me and want me near them,” he said.
“Why would I want to live four years of my life in an armoured car with bodyguards? Four years of my life when I can’t just go where I want to go?”
Although he did not explicitly blame far-right President Jair Bolsonaro - who took office earlier this month - Wyllys said that violence and hate speech had worsened since he was elected.
The Guardian says Wyllys’ departure is “likely to add to fears among Brazil’s LGBT community” that homophobia is “set to rise even further” under Bolsonaro. The army office-turned-politician has a history of homophobic comments, including saying that he would “rather his son die in a car accident than be gay”.
Wyllys’ left-wing Party for Socialism and Liberty (PSOL) said that his vacant seat in Congress would be filled by David Miranda, “a member of the Rio de Janeiro city council who is also gay and is married to Pulitzer prize-winning US journalist Glenn Greenwald”, reports the BBC.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How will the next pope change the Catholic Church?
Talking Points Conclaves can be unpredictable
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Conspiracy theorists circle again following RFK file release
The Explainer Both RFK and his brother, President John F. Kennedy, have been the subjects of conspiracies
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
7 equestrian activities for when you feel like horsin' around
The Week Recommends These graceful animals make any experience better
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
Brazil's war on illicit hot air balloons
Under the Radar Secret 'baloeiros' fly flamboyantly colourful creations over Rio's favelas, despite nationwide ban
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK