Federal deputy Erika Kokay (DF-PT) participated in the VIII LGBT Seminar, which took place last week (18) in Brasília, at the Chamber of Federal Deputies. During the event, the deputy spoke briefly with the website's report The Cape.
In the exclusive interview you read below, Erika Kokay, who has a strong presence on the issue of human rights, says that the attitudes of Congressman Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ) "should be criminalized". The deputy also claims that the parliamentarian is “anachronistic”.
The parliamentarian also comments on the controversy surrounding the Ministry of Education's Anti-homophobia Kit (MEC), teaching material focused on sexual diversity, which has received harsh criticism from conservative and fundamentalist sectors of the National Congress. For the deputy, the MEC must respond in kind and such silence on the part of minister Fernando Haddad strengthens the chorus of opponents.
What is your opinion on the stance of Congressman Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ)?
This parliamentarian is absolutely anachronistic. It is a reaction to all the advances that have been made in the constitution of LGBT citizenship and this provokes an angry, insane reaction of stupidity that cannot be translated into a real and effective position here in Congress. The deputy has this type of position because we still do not have the criminalization of homophobia. He takes advantage of the fact that legislation is still insufficient to shout and preach hate. Postures like that of Congressman Bolsonaro should be criminalized.
Is the National Congress more in favor or against the criminalization of homophobia?
I would say that there was an important milestone, which was the decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), it has a historical character that changes and causes a division of waters. In this sense, I would say that we have a more favorable balance of forces at the moment. Obviously this provokes a reaction from people who do not want us to have equal rights, in other words, we must face that these hateful reactions are responses to the advances that are being made. These are demonstrations of weakness, because if there had not been these advances we would not have this type of stance to try to contain, with hatred, history itself.
What do you think of the silence of the Ministry of Education (MEC) in the face of attacks against the anti-homophobia kit?
We will be with the minister [Fernando Haddad] today (17) exactly so that we can provoke a reaction. I believe that the MEC has to respond and face this campaign [against Kit].
Does this silence from the MEC not strengthen opponents?
For sure. The most important thing for the MEC is that it has action and an attitude to face it. The greatest response that the ministry can give is this: an action that translates into a transformation of reality.
Do reactionary parliamentarians have a future in Congress?
I believe that they represent a part of society that is increasingly minority. But I would say that we are reaching a time where people will be ashamed to express their homophobia. I'm not saying that we're going to eliminate the existence of homophobia, but people will be ashamed, just as many are ashamed to express their racism and gender prejudice. And that time is coming and these people will remain silent.
Do you believe in the approval of PLC 122/2006, which aims to criminalize homophobia in Brazil?
We will work on this and I believe we can criminalize it. We are heading towards this.
