How Not To Get Elected

As the Brazilian presidential election heats up, one candidate has emerged as the least expected to win. Already a fringe candidate, Levy Fidelix went on a homophobic rant during his TV debate, basically securing his own loss. It's as if he knew he didn't have a chance, so he used his air time to get some long-held, hate-filled beliefs off his chest. Surprise, surprise: His approval rate is less than one percent.

In the run-up to the Brazilian general election on Oct. 5, incumbent Dilma Rousseff of the Worker's Party (PT) has been defending her position against two primary opponents, Aécio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and Marina Silva of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB). In addition to these top three candidates are eight additional hopefuls, four of whom also had the opportunity to debate on TV.

Though these contenders have around one percent or less of voter support — and no hope of winning — they are allotted equal air time to try to win over the public. Fidelix, however, used his air time to lose even more support with an unabashedly homophobic harangue.

While Rousseff defended her administration's social programs and Silva encouraged broad political reform, here's what Fidelix said.

Why Didn't Someone Cut Him Off?

During the debate, candidates asked each other the tough questions. When Luciana Genro asked Fidelix why people refuse to recognize families with same-sex partners when defending the family, Fidelix replied in his 62 years of life, he's learned that a homosexual relationship is an "excretory system" that does not contribute to the family cycle. In fact, he claimed that gay marriage would cut Brazil's population in half, from 200 million to 100 million.

The candidate, unfortunately, went on to call homosexuality an "issue" that needs "psychological help" and said it would be better if gay people kept "well away from [the rest of] us." He also dismissed votes from the gay population (as if they would vote for him anyway) and then, just to drive home his ignorance, compared homosexuality to pedophilia and vowed to "fight this minority."

Who Is This Guy Anyway?

Fidelix is the founder of the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB), a small party positioned on centre-right politics. Fidelix had made several attempts to run for political office in the past, including mayor of Sao Paulo and governor of Sao Paulo.

So far, he has not been elected to any office. Surprise.

Images: Rede Brasil Atual/Flickr (3)