A group of 20 trans, lesbian, bisexual and gay parliamentarians from 13 states and seven different political parties filed a complaint with the Minas Gerais Public Ministry against volleyball player Maurício Souza, who posted homophobic messages on his social media profiles.
“Discrimination is clear and direct, because it results from the explicit intention to humiliate and embarrass the entire LGBTQIA+ population, harming the proper exercise of the fundamental right to citizenship and an increased risk of violence from speeches like this one”, the parliamentarians say about the content of the posts.
“Mr. Maurício Souza has been using his social networks for a long time to spread offensive comments to the LGBTQIA+ community, directly or indirectly,” they follow.
Parliamentarians also officiated on Facebook requesting a meeting to talk about the homophobic comments made by Maurício Souza on Instagram and discuss the platform’s policies to combat LGBTphobic violence and hate speech (see document below).
Both representations bring together among the signatories names such as Senator Fabiano Contarato (Rede-ES), Deputies Leci Brandão (PC of B-SP), David Miranda (PSOL-RJ), Vivi Reis (PSOL-PA), Fábio Félix (PSOL-DF), Robeyonce Lima (PSOL-PE) and councilors Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), Monica Benício (PSOL-RJ), Linda Brasil (PSOL-SE), Duda Salabert (PDT-MG), Bella Gonçalves (PSOL-MG), Thabatta Pimenta (Pros-RN) and Benny Briolly (PSOL-RJ).
They are asking for a public criminal action to be filed against the volleyball player for inciting prejudice and homotransphobic discrimination, as well as compensation for collective moral damage starting at R$50,000.
They also request that Souza be determined to withdraw homophobic posts for violating the limits of freedom of expression and propagating hate speech inciting prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ population.
Two weeks ago, the 33-year-old athlete expressed his displeasure at DC Comics’ announcement that the new Superman, son of the original Superman, will find himself bisexual in upcoming issues of the comic. “Oh, it’s just a drawing, it’s no big deal. This one will see where we end up”, he wrote.
There was then a virtual discussion with the athlete Douglas, Maurício’s partner in the Brazilian team and member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Funny that I didn’t turn straight seeing male superheroes kissing women,” wrote Douglas, who currently plays Italian volleyball. “Nowadays, right is wrong, and wrong is right… It doesn’t depend on me. If you have to choose a side, I take the side that I think is right! I stick with my beliefs, values and ideas”, replied Mauritius.
On Wednesday (27), after pressure, Minas Tênis Clube announced the termination of the athlete’s contract. Fiat and Gerdau, which play the men’s volleyball team at the association, demanded a firmer position from the board, which initially had just published a note condemning homophobia in a generic way and defending the “freedom to express oneself”.
A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro (no party), with whom he recently met in Brasília, central Maurício Souza was defended by the president. “Holy shit, impressive, right? Everything is homophobia, everything is feminism,” Bolsonaro said hours before the announcement of the termination.
Brazilian national team coach Renan dal Zotto told O Globo newspaper that he had learned about the case and was “disappointed”. “This type of conduct is unacceptable. When it comes to the Brazilian team, there is no room for homophobic professionals.”
According to the parliamentarians who signed the representation sent to the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais, Maurício practiced a provocation and negative valuation of the LGBTQIA+ population as a whole, placing them as a bad influence or dangerous for the “family”.
“This is undeniably configured as the practice and incitement of prejudice and discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ population, therefore, criminal conduct”, they state.
In 2019, the STF (Supreme Federal Court) recognized homophobia and transphobia in the list of crimes of racism until the National Congress approves a law.
See below the letter sent by the group of 20 parliamentarians to Facebook:
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