Valdemar Costa Neto defends Nikolas for transphobic speech – 03/10/2023 – Politics

National President of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto came out in defense of Bolsonarist deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) after the parliamentarian put on a wig and made a transphobic speech in the plenary of the Chamber on Wednesday (8), in an attack on trans women in the International Women’s Day.

In a profile publication on social networks this Friday (10), Valdemar stated that Nikolas has the support of the national leadership of the party and said that “freedom of expression and its parliamentary prerogatives will always be defended” by the party.

“Freedom of expression and its parliamentary prerogatives will be defended by our party whenever it is exercising its mandate, expressing its opinion. Count on us, Nikolas! The PL will always be with you”, he wrote.

Valdemar also said that the parliamentarian represents a segment of society and must “be respected for that.”

“That’s why Deputy Nikolas has our support and that of the PL’s national leadership. He has gained more than 46,000 followers in the last few hours because he is frank. He speaks on behalf of a segment of society and must be respected for that,” he said. .

As of this Friday afternoon, the Bolsonarist deputy had 2.1 million followers on Twitter, 6.6 million on Instagram and 1.3 million on Facebook.

The president of Jair Bolsonaro’s party also cited the fact that Nikolas was the most voted federal deputy in the country in 2022 and said that this occurred for “several reasons”. “He IS a person of qualities, who has principles, a young man who defends his convictions with passion and sincerity. He represents the voter who believes in him.”

In the transphobic speech in the plenary of the Chamber, the deputy said that women have lost space for “men who feel like women”. “They are trying to impose a reality that is not reality.”

He also said that women have lost space for trans women in sports and beauty pageants. “It’s a person who simply feels something and imposes it on you.”

The parliamentarian’s speeches were criticized by deputies even during the session. The mayor himself, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), made a public reprimand against the parliamentarian, stated that the plenary of the House is not “a stage for exhibitionism and much less prejudiced speeches” and sympathized with anyone who might have felt offended .

In addition, a request to revoke Nikolas’ mandate was filed with the Council of Ethics of the Chamber by PSOL, PSB, PDT, Rede, PT and PC do B. The Bolsonarist also became the target of two criminal notices sent to the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

In 2019, crimes of transphobia and homophobia were equated to the crime of racism by the Supreme Court.

Such as Sheet showed, however, despite the articulation of political parties to impeach Nikolas, party leaders say that the loss of mandate is unlikely. They say the lawmaker should receive a warning, censure or, at most, suspension for his speech.

On Thursday (9), Nikolas went to the networks to defend himself and stated that there is no transphobia in his speech. “I defended the right of women not to lose their space in sports for trans people —in view of the biological difference—and not to have a man in the women’s bathroom. There is no transphobia in my speech. I clarified the example with a wig (shocking). going beyond that is hysteria and storytelling.”