This week read about Benny Briolly being forced to exile from Brazil due to death threats, and police arresting 21 people for “allegedly pushing an LGBT agenda” in Ghana.
Trans Brazilian Councilwoman Forced To Exile After Death Threats
On May 13, it was announced that Benny Briolly, the first transgender woman elected to the City Council of Nitero in Rio de Janeiro, had fled her homeland after receiving death threats.
According to the U.S. Network for Democracy in Brazil, Briolly, a Black supporter of Brazil’s PSOL (Socialism and Liberty Party), won the most votes among the women elected to the city council in the 2020 municipal elections.
Her election was seen by many as a clear challenge to the oppressive, misogynistic, and homophobic Brazilian state. The threats that she has received include everything from threats to bodily injury to death threats, and others have even included her home address.
The councilwoman confirmed that she has filed formal charges with national and international human rights groups, as well as reporting the attacks to law enforcement for investigation. Briolly will continue to serve as a councilwoman virtually.
Police In Ghana Arrest 21 LGBT Activists
A police car in Accra, Ghana. Photo via Gkbediako, Wikipedia.
Ghanaian police announced Friday that they had arrested 21 people for allegedly pushing an LGBT agenda at an illegal assembly in Ho, in the country’s southeast.
According to the police press release, the 16 women and five men were arrested May 20 at a hotel for nurses and midwives, where they allegedly met to promote LGBT events with books and leaflets titled “Coming Out” and “All about Trans.”
According to Reuters, all detainees will appear before a court June 4.
The group convened to exchange information about how to register and report human rights abuse faced by LGBT Ghanaians, according to Rightify Ghana.
“The press teamed up with the police to storm the meeting location, started taking images, took their belongings, and arrested them,” the rights group said in a post on Twitter.
