Supporters of former President Bolsonaro have managed to ban an increasing number of books that address LGBTQI and racism issues. A "bad copy of what's happening in the USA", says the acclaimed Brazilian author Jeferson Tenório.
The trend of banning books that address topics such as LGBTQI and racism has been ongoing in the USA in recent years, with over 4,000 banned titles in 2023. Now, the trend has been imported to Brazil, and is condemned in an interview with the censored author Jeferson Tenório in The Guardian.
"Disgusting and disrespectful"
"Disgusting" and disrespectful towards "good behavior" was what a principal in Brazil thought of the award-winning novel "The Wrong Side of the Skin", in a viral video clip in Brazil last spring. The day after, a local authority ordered the book to be removed from school libraries.
In less than a week, the campaign had spread and three other states banned Jeferson Tenório's novel.
Since then, several other books that address LGBTQI, racism, or even female researchers have been banned in different cities. The common denominator is that the bans are often driven by politicians loyal to the country's former president, the conservative Jair Bolsonaro.
"Not in the classroom"
According to author Jeferson Tenório, Bolsonaro has a strategy that involves identifying a clear enemy that hatred and ill will can be directed towards.
My book was the target then, just like others are now, he says to The Guardian.
"The Wrong Side of the Skin" contains a scene where two teenage boys talk about their sexuality. It was that which made the notable principal see red. But according to Tenório, it was not why his book was banned.
It's a book by a black author that deals with race issues and police brutality. Southern Brazil is a very conservative and prejudiced region where they don't want to discuss this topic in the classroom.
