Governor of Brazilian Rio Grande do Sul state comes out: “I am a governor who is gay.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Eduardo Leite, the governor of Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul , assumed his sexual orientation during an interview for Pedro Bial’s program on Globo’s “Conversa com Bial”, aired this Thursday, July 1.

During the conversation, Leite, a potential presidential candidate for the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) next year, recognizes that sexuality is still seen as a point to be exploited by competitors in the electoral race and reaffirms that he has “nothing to hide”.

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“I am not a gay governor, I am a governor who is gay. Just like Obama was not a black president, but a president who is black!” Leite said.

In social networks, his opponent within the party’s presidency in 2022, João Doria, expressed “admiration and respect” to his friend.

ONE OF THE FIVE MOST PROMISING POLITICIANS UNDER 40 IN LATIN AMERICA

Eduardo Figueiredo Cavalheiro Leite was elected governor in the 2018 state elections with 53.62% of the votes, at the age of 33, making him the youngest governor in Brazil.

Leite began his career in politics at a young age, first running for Pelotas city council in 2004 at age 19. Though unsuccessful, Leite began working for PSDB municipal politicians and, in 2009, would be elected to Pelotas city council. In 2011, Leite became the Pelotas City Council President.

In 2013, Leite won the city’s mayoral election and served from 2013 to 2016.

Read also: Brazil’s Bolsonaro says governor came out to promote his candidacy in the presidential elections

During his term as mayor, Leite modernized management methods and prioritized fiscal austerity, which resulted in balanced public accounts. He was able to guarantee funding for major infrastructure works and the remodeling of the urban mobility system, while also improving local health and education indicators.

Leite ended his term with an approval rating of 87%. Concerned with high incumbency rates among Brazilian politicians, Leite opted to not run for re-election; instead, he backed the successful candidacy of his deputy mayor, Paula Schild Mascarenhas.

Eduardo Leite was chosen by “Americas Quarterly”, a North-American magazine, as one of the five most promising politicians under 40 in Latin America.

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