US envoy says criminalizing homophobia not the best answer
The LGBT rainbow flag was hoisted alongside the US flag at the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro 
Brazil provides many positive and inspiring examples in ensuring the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI). This is the opinion of the US Department of State Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, Randy Berry. He talked to activists and Brazilian authorities.
Following two days in São Paulo and one in Brasília, Berry went to Rio on Tuesday (June 9), where he met community leaders in the Cidade de Deus slum. “I was struck by the high quality job they're doing there, and came back really inspired by what I've seen,” he said.
Berry commended education and job services provided by organizations in São Paulo to community members who have faced violence and discrimination.
Before speaking to authorities and activists in the US Consulate in Rio, he hoisted the LGBT rainbow flag just by the US flag. According to Berry, the US and Brazilian governments have similar interests and concerns.
“I was in Brasília with Foreign Ministry representatives, and I realized in our conversations that Brazil and the US are very close in this regard,” he said.
Randy Berry
Brazil's challenges are also very similar to those faced by the US. “I think all countries still have a long way to go in this matter. The same goes for the United States. There, for example, violence against members of the transgender community is also significantly higher than against other members of the community,” said Berry, who advocates education as a key to overcome the problem. According to him, criminalizing homophobia is not the best answer.
“The US experience in legal strategies has been towards criminalizing hate actions and hate speech inciting violence. Freedom of expression is also a very important right for us, so we think education is the key to the problem. We still have to deal with homophobia, but I think that's part of the evolution process in any country.”
Berry attended the Gay Pride Parade in São Paulo and said he had never experienced anything like that. “It was probably the biggest crowd I've ever seen, and they had an amazing vibe,” he said.
Although he did not see the performance of a crucified half-naked transsexual during the parade, which sparked controversy on social media, he argued that people have the right to express themselves in Brazil just as well as in his country. “As long as it doesn't incite violence or harm anyone,” he said.
The special envoy said he has learned many lessons from his South American tour. Before landing in Brazil, he was in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. “I was surprised by the original and insightful work they do here. And also very excited about potential partnership opportunities for the future,” he said.
For him, the key is “figuring out how to combine these lessons to make the kind of change we really want to see in the world, as we still have so many LGBT brothers and sisters living in difficulty in many countries.”
He confirmed that this is the first of a series of visits and that partnerships are underway.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: US envoy says criminalizing homophobia not the best answer
