Continuing with the coverage of municipal elections, the website The Cape sent questions to all LGBT candidates for councilor in the city of São Paulo. The same questions were sent to the 10 representatives of the gay community who are running for a seat on the city's City Council. Below you can see the interview with Bill da Pizza, PSOL candidate.
How did the opportunity arise for you to run for councilor?
I've always been interested in politics. I worked on the "Diversidade nas Praças" project and, in 2006, when Kassab management tried to close Autorama, where I worked selling pizza, I approached Giannazi. Together with him and other people, I helped resist the closing of Autorama. From then on, it was a bond and, this year, the chance arose to run for councilor and mainly represent the city's large LGBT community.
What sets you apart from other candidates?
Unlike candidates from other parties, I have complete freedom to defend LGBT people in PSOL. Furthermore, I have experienced several of the city's problems firsthand... I was beaten by the police in Autorama, I have a daughter who studies in a public school, which I know is in deficit, I am an entrepreneur, but I don't have access to capital, and I faced a lot of homophobia on the streets and in the streets. my family, who are evangelical. So I have a lot in common with whoever I want to represent, I know what we need.
What are your main proposals?
Depending on my story, I mainly want to be the voice of LGBT people in São Paulo. So, I want to prevent homophobia from the beginning, ensuring education for diversity. Furthermore, I will fight for public servants, especially in health and GCM, to be trained to deal with LGBT people. I will pay special attention to transvestites and transsexuals, who are the most vulnerable. Finally, fight for more resources for public facilities aimed at LGBT people that already exist (CADS, CCH, CRD), and make it possible for there to be others.
How do you intend to help combat homophobic attacks on the streets of SP?
Look, security has two ends. One is prevention, and then we think about education for diversity, in campaigns that publicize the anti-homophobia laws that already exist, such as state law nº 10.948/2001, so that LGBT people are informed and can fight for respect themselves. . Furthermore, we can seek that GCM really takes care of public places where LGBT people live, such as Arouche, Autorama, Benedito Calixto. There is another aspect, which is punishment. We need to first ensure that anyone who has been offended reports it. To do this, LGBT people need to know about the channels that already exist: dial 100, public defender's office, police station, etc. With statistics, we can demand more investment. Furthermore, I will always leave my office open for complaints of homophobia, as Giannazi already does, who has provided a telephone number for this. But it must also be said that the civil police, which belongs to the State, take care of this, and as a councilor I will make noise and complain when there is a delay.
In your opinion, what is the biggest problem currently facing the LGBT population in São Paulo?
The biggest problem for LGBT people in São Paulo, which is also that of straight people, is the lack of POLITICS. City hall has to represent citizens, not serve the interests of a few. There we have the highest bus fare in Brazil, poor public transport, poor quality education for more than 900 students... And this applies to LGBT people too, Kassab promised 2 million reais and only invested one million in recent years! So it is necessary to truly commit to the population, to those who need it.
How do you intend to build your political allies?
I build allies from a non-negotiable core, which is the interests of LGBT people and marginalized people in general. If someone wants to fight for the rights of LGBT people, the voiceless, the homeless, etc., they can count on my help. My true ally will be the LGBT community and I know they will vote for me, because I don't believe in this story that gays don't vote for gays and we're going to prove it on October 07th, that gays do vote for gays.
