President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a decree creating a National Day Against Homophobia. The day will be commemorated annually on 17 May, following a request from the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals and Trans Association (ABGLT). ABGLT's president Toni Reis says the decree is the governmental recognition that homophobia exists in Brazil and that concrete actions are needed to reduce prejudice, discrimination and stigma. "We hope that Brazil's example will be followed by the 75 countries where homosexuality is a crime and in the seven countries where the death penalty exists for homosexuals”, he says Reis has congratulated the federal government, in particular the Human Rights Secretariat of the President's Office, for its efforts in approving the decree. The decree is one of a number of campaign promises the Brazilian President has honoured. Other moves include the continuity of the Brazil Without Homophobia Programme; the holding of the 1st National LGBT Conference; the creation of the National LGBT Coordination, the National LGBT Council and the National Plan to Promote LGBT Citizenship and Human Rights.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 14th June 2010 - 12:48pm