Brazil Shows Qatar The Way On Gay Rights

Rio beach boy may arouse Qatari interest

When Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup, they will surely welcome a sizeable delegation from Qatar to large it up in fancy hotels, enjoy the best free seats at the biggest games, and generally whore around to embark on a serious fact-finding mission on the best way to host an international football tournament, while ensuring that their behaviour scrupulously reflects the central tenets of the Koran. During this doubtless instructive time, they may want to venture out and take a few notes on local lifestyle choices.

Brazil, under outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, may have been criticised by both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch this year for its tacit support of dictatorships in countries like Iran and Cuba, but at least it has responded to public pressure on gay rights issues. Earlier this month, Lula and his Human Rights Secretary Paulo Vannuchi signed a decree to create the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Council.

The decree states that the council will “formulate and propose guidelines for government actions, at the national level, aimed at combating discrimination and promoting and defending the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals.” It will be composed of 15 government functionaries and 15 representatives of non-governmental organizations, and was heralded by Toni Reis, President of the Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Association, as “a victory for civil society”.

“Perhaps the next time a Qatari delegation heads to Rio,” FIFA President Sepp Blatter failed to declare, “they could spend some time at the appropriate clubs and beaches, loosen up their robes, don a dash of lipstick, and take on board some tips for livening up Doha’s night-time leisure agenda in time for 2022. At least ten per cent of repressed Qatari males agree.”