One week after President Obama raised the prospect of repealing the
Don't Ask Don't Tell law preventing gays from serving openly in the
U.S. ministry, a top Brazilian general has caused a firestorm by saying
that gays have no place in that country's armed forces.
"Military life
contains certain characteristics, including combat, that cannot be
adjusted to fit the
life of this individual," said Gen. Raymundo Nonato
de Cerqueira Filho, referring to gays. He made the comments during
testimony before the Brazilian Senate's Constitutional and Justice
Committee, according tot he newspaper O Globo. "Most of the armies of
the world do not allow this type of [sexual] orientation."
As a result
of the comments, some senators says they call the general back for more
testimony before supporting his appoitnment to the country's highest
military court. The Senate could decide to reject his appointment.
The
Brazilian Defense Minister, Nelson Jobim, tried to play down the issue.
"The statements by the general did not influence the internal debate of
the Defense Ministry, and are not relevant to the Supreme Military
Tribunal," he said.
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