The response of the main newspaper of Brazil to the censorship of the mayor of Rio de Janeiro – 09/07/2019

Sao Paulo Folha, the main newspaper of Brazil, published on its cover this Saturday the image that most bothers the mayor of Rio de Janeiro: that of two men kissing.

It was the response of the press to the unusual act of censorship of Marcelo Crivella, the intendant evangelist of Rio, who on Friday ordered a squad of inspectors to search and remove from the Biennial of the Book of that city those copies in which content that he considers "inappropriate" was shown.

Crivella's order, ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, was for the presence at the comic book fair "Avengers: Children's Crusade", a 264-page superhero story, in which two of his male characters are boyfriends. The biennial, one of the most traditional events held in the city, is known as a open and diverse cultural party.

The image that this Saturday published Folha In its cover, large and in color, it shows the kiss between Hulkling and Wiccan, the two homosexual protagonists of the book.

"Crivella tries to censor a gay kiss, but it is forbidden", is the main title of the newspaper. In a strong position, the newspaper also includes in its front page two analysis materials. In one of them, an expert in law affirms that the arguments of the prohibition "are not supported" and in another, a journalist of the newspaper is also blunt: "The controversy smells like mold; gay heroes have existed for a long time."

The main title refers to the fact that after the order of Crivella, the Justice of Rio de Janeiro decided that the mayor cannot order the withdrawal of any books of the International Biennial based on its content. However, the president of the Rio Court, Claudio de Mello Tavares, suspended that decision and finally he gave the reason to the municipality.

So the inspectors showed up at the fair to verify compliance with the order not to display the book questioned by the mayor and, in addition, if other "inappropriate" publications were being exhibited.

Interestingly, the stir caused that the books with the cartoon will run out.

Crivella, former evangelical bishop elected mayor in 2016, reported Thursday that he had "determined" that the Biennial should withdraw the comic "that brings sexual content for minors." "Books like this should be wrapped in black plastic, sealed and with a notice of content on the outside," he added in a video posted on his Twitter account, in which he exhibits the cover and one of the bullets in the book.

In responding to the appeal presented by the mayor's office, the president of the Court of Rio said that the law provides for recall of books with "improper content for minors" That is intended for children or young people, and that is exposed without proper warnings.

The magistrate clarified that it is not about censorship but about compliance with a determination provided by law and intended to protect minors.

As a protest, this Saturday a Brazilian youtuber distributed free at the Biennale 14,000 publications that deal with homosexual themes, in response to the mayor's attempt to censor the comic with the kiss between two men.

The striking initiative, which attracted a crowd and formed a long line in one of the seats of the Biennial, was of Felipe Neto, a popular youtuber, who claimed to have bought all the inventory of the main gay-themed books available at the event.