Edgar de Souza (PSDB), mayor of Lins, in the interior of São Paulo, was the only openly homosexual candidate to be elected to a position as head of the Executive in the 2012 elections, according to a survey by the Brazilian Association of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals (ABGLT).
Aged 34, a trained sociologist, he was elected councilor in the city three times, until he ran for Mayor last year and won the elections with 53,23% of the valid votes.
Comments about his sexuality emerged during his re-election as councilor in 2004. However, Edgar only spoke publicly about the subject at the last rally of his campaign last year. "I don't have to hide who I live with, who I love. If I hide, I don't deserve to be your mayor. God loves me as a homosexual", he declared on the platform on the eve of the election.
In an interview with the G1 portal, the mayor of Lins said that it would make no sense for him to hide his personal life.
"Today I am very happy. Extremely happy. Why bother with other people's sexuality? Those who are convinced of their own are not bothered by someone else's. How does my sexuality hinder you? This invasion of people's intimate lives is done in a way They say I'm abnormal. I'm normal, I'm not blue, I don't have three arms. In public life we value transparency, it didn't make sense to hide who I love and who I respect," he said.
The mayor says that his intimate life has always served as attack ammunition for his opponents. "I never used homosexuality to carry a flag and everything they tried to do fell apart. My choice does not define my character and my votes were due to my political history."
During the campaign, leaflets were distributed in the city in an attempt to tarnish Edgar's image.
"There are two police inquiries underway regarding leaflets distributed with photos of me and my partner. Between 5 and 10 posters were sent by post. The material contained a photo of me and Alex. He had his head on his shoulder and had several hearts on it" .
Another political attack managed to be intercepted on the eve of voting day. "It is common for leaflets to be distributed on the streets. Teams worked in the early hours of the morning to prevent the leaflet from being spread. It was a leaflet with my photo as a drag queen, with a horrible wig", says the current mayor.
On the city streets, residents are not bothered by the mayor's homosexuality. "I don't think it has anything to do with it. Everyone does what they like. He's a guy who came from the countryside and a very good person. We hope he does good for the city", said retired civil servant, Sebastião Germano da Silva.
Edgar and his partner Alex have been together for 9 years and got married shortly after the elections. The couple adopted two children.
