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 Last month, in an apparent slip of the tongue, a soccer team manager inferred on Brazilian televison that a star athlete on Sao Paulo's soccer team is gay. Says sports blog The Offside:
An apparent slip of the tongue on-air by a soccer club manager may
lead a pro player in São Paulo, Brazil, to bring civil and criminal
charges. José Cyrillo Jr., a manager with the Palmeiras team, answered
a question on the “Debate Bola” TV program about rumors that a player
from rival São Paulo was arranging a national television interview to
come out.
Asked if the unnamed player was from Palmeiras, Cyrillo responded,
“No, Richarlyson was almost with Palmeiras.” Richarlyson has now asked
an attorney, Renato Prata Salge, to review video of Cyrillo’s interview
to determine his legal options.
It's caused a national stir. And now, some ridiculous comments by a Brazilian judge in response to the case are adding more fuel to the fire.
Even though he effectively set the case aside, his remarks are kind of astounding:
"In reaching a decision to effectively set the case
aside, Judge Manoel Maximiniano Junqueira Filho said football was a
virile masculine sport and not a homosexual one.
If you were a homosexual, it would be better to admit it or to conceal it completely, the judge was reported as saying.
However, if that was the case, it would be better to abandon the playing field, he added."
The remarks are in stark contrast to Brazil's open attitude toward homosexuality, as evidenced by the three million people who marched in Sao Paulo's gay pride parade this year, making it the biggest in the world.
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written by Pereira on August 07, 2007
It's really sad this state of mind and comprehension that some of Brazilian jourists are coming through.
As I am studying Law school here in Brazil, all that I can say that this is changing. Depending on the state of the federation gay-related (or 'homoaffective' relations, as they like to name it) themes are becoming more and more present in our jurisprudence. The state of Rio Grande do Sul is in front of this movement. And we, law students, are willing to move it too.
So, honestly, the time for those archaisms/monstruosities such as the judge's declaration disappear is coming. He really deserves (if not the Magistrados Association reprimenda) political and financial indenization apart from a public statement taking back what he said. It's Constitutional the protection against discrimination 'of any nature'. We students are fighting it. Gay community and media are fighting it too. Only a matter of time.