GOTTA GET OUT

Jean Wyllys, Brazil’s First Openly Gay Congressman, Flees Country Over Death Threats

David Miranda, husband of American journalist Glenn Greenwald, has been named to replace Jean Wyllys in Brazil's Congress.

One of Brazil's few openly gay congressmen says he has decided to leave the country for good after receiving death threats, BBC News reports. Jean Wyllys reportedly told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper he felt violence in Brazil had grown after the election of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro last year—who has made homophobic remarks. In the interview, Wyllys said the threats against him have spread to members of his family and social media campaigns have “destroyed” his reputation with “lies.” He also claimed people have been “shoving him in the street” despite his bodyguards, and he was tired of living under protection. “It was not Bolsonaro's election itself,” he said. “It was the level of violence that has increased since he was elected.” Wyllys is reportedly traveling in Europe and said he plans to study in a PhD program. The country's Party for Socialism and Liberty said Wyllys would be replaced in Congress by David Miranda, a member of Rio de Janeiro's city council and husband of American journalist Glenn Greenwald.