Jair Bolsonaro officially won the Brazilian presidential election yesterday (Oct. 28) in what has been described as one of the most fraught elections in Brazil’s history.
An extremist right-wing candidate dubbed by some as the “Donald Trump of Brazil,” the former Brazilian congressman and military leader has been met with controversy for his contentious views on women, the LGBTQ community, gun control, and on Brazil’s history of dictatorship. Still, he won with a decisive, ten-point lead against his main opponent — Fernando Haddad, the former mayor of São Paulo — in the runoff election that took place yesterday.
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Artists and celebrities, including Lauren Jauregui, Halsey, Michelle Visage, Aja, Rina Sawayama, Raymond Braun, Indya Moore, Pabllo Vittar, Gloria Groove, and Aretuza Lovi, have taken to social media to pledge their opposition to Bolsonaro’s election and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community — who have been the target of many of Bolsonaro’s attacks.
“Praying for all my Brazilian loves..especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community,” Jauregui tweeted. Brazilian drag icon Pabllo Vittar also took to Instagram for a rallying cry, sharing a picture of a rainbow along with the caption “Eu resisto” (“I resist”) soon after Bolsonaro’s victory was announced, while fellow Brazilian queen Aretuza Lovi shared her own message of resistance. “Resistir sempre,” (“Always resist”) she wrote on Twitter. “Agora mais que nunca.” (“Now more than ever.”)
Check out all of the messages of support and solidarity below.
Praying for all my Brazilian loves..especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community.–
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) October 28, 2018
my heart is breaking for my brasilian fans right now. my women. my lgbtq+. i know you are afraid. this is not the loving brasil we know. we are here for you. stay strong.
— h (@halsey) October 29, 2018
Brazil I am thinking of u in this difficult time. We r with u in solidarity against hate and bigotry. Even if in real life it doesn’t seem like it, online u can always find ur community here with open arms —— here you are loved ?? https://t.co/Me12Nhsr2I
— RINA–?—— (@rinasawayama) October 29, 2018
I AM SO SORRY FOR YOU BRAZIL
— michelle visage (@michellevisage) October 28, 2018
Sending love to Brazil.
??———-
As a global community, we must be more visible and proactive than ever in advocating for equality, compassion, and dignity for all.
——?–— Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) October 29, 2018
Just no. Disgusting. https://t.co/aEJWoAbM29
— AJA (@ajaqueen) October 29, 2018
hoje se eu pudesse abraçaria cada um de vocês. momentos como este nos lembram a importância de estarmos cada vez mais juntos. mantenho minha cabeça erguida, pois sei que não estou sozinha. não nos matarão por dentro. somos resistência banhados em celebração. o AMOR resiste ???–?– pic.twitter.com/DPs3RbAgMS
— Gloria Groove (@gloriagroove) October 29, 2018
Praying for all #women, #poc & #LGBTQIA #brasil. —- ?? –?–
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) October 29, 2018
Resistir sempre. Agora mais que nunca –?–?
— Aretuza Lovi (@aretuzalovi) October 28, 2018