Cipriani Hall will not host homophobic president Jair Bolsonaro
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with press after meeting with venezuelan opposition leader and self-declared iterim president Juan Guaido at Palace Itamaraty on February 28, 2019 in Brasília, Brazil. (Andressa Anholete/Getty)
A second New York venue is refusing to host homophobic Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, days after the American Museum of Natural History declined.
Cipriani Hall in Wall Street declined the opportunity host the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce gala where Bolsonaro is set to be named Person of the Year, according to reports from Brazilian newspaper Estadão.
The decision was made due to pressure from environmental activists and from the city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio.
Jair Bolsonaro is a dangerous man. His overt racism, homophobia and destructive decisions will have a devastating impact on the future of our planet. On behalf of our city, thank you to @AMNH for canceling this event. https://t.co/06NAZovyoe
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 16, 2019
Mayor Blasio came out strongly against Bolsonaro, describing him as a “dangerous man” who “will have a devastating impact on the future of our planet.”
The Brazilian president, 64, has suggested he would pull Brazil out of the Paris Accord on climate change and has said he wants to develop on the Amazon rainforest.
On April 15, the American Museum of Natural History cancelled the event after expressing concern over the booking.
“With mutual respect for the work & goals of our individual organizations, we jointly agreed that the Museum is not the optimal location for the Brazilian-Am. Chamber of Commerce gala dinner,” the museum said on its official Twitter account.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gestures during a ceremony of presentation of new diplomats’ credentials at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 8, 2019. (SERGIO LIMA/AFP/Getty)
Bolsonaro’s anti-LGBT comments
Ultra-conservative president Bolsonaro has previously said he would rather his son die than be gay. “I would be incapable of loving a gay son. I prefer that he die in an accident.”
While during his presidential campaign, the president of Brazil stood by a claim that he would punch gay people if he saw them kissing in public.
Bolsonaro has also claimed that gay people want to turn children gay “to satisfy their sexuality in the future.” Bolsonaro said: “I make a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia because many of the children who will be adopted by ‘gay’ couples will be abused by these homosexual couples.”
He’s also said: “If a gay couple came to live in my building, my property will lose value. If they walk around holding hands, kissing, it will lose value.”
