Brazil’s president suspends school anti-homophobia campaign
Brazil’s president has suspended an anti-homophobia campaign in schools because she thought the DVDs and leaflets were not appropriate for children.
President Dilma Rousseff’s spokesman said she had viewed the material and “didn’t like what she saw”.
The DVDs and leaflets were to be distributed in schools across the country in an effort to counter homophobia.
Ms Rousseff’s spokesman Gilberto Carvalho said that religious groups had objected to the material and the president had decided to suspend the programme. He did not say which parts she disliked.
Some critics claimed the DVDs could ‘encourage’ homosexuality.
Congressman and gay rights campaigner Jean Wyllys, said he was disappointed in the president.
“I voted for her in the last elections,” he told BBC News, “because I thought she would defend the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens.”
“If she doesn’t do a U-turn and change her mind, I will urge all gay people not to vote for her again.”
