RIO DE JANEIRO — An openly gay congressman in Brazil says he is leaving his job and the country because of death threats.
Daily Folha de S. Paulo published an interview Thursday with Congressman Jean Wyllys, who said he was currently outside of Brazil and had no plans to return.
Instead, he said he would work in academia but didn’t say where.
Wyllys was re-elected in October and set to begin a third term in February.
In the interview, Wyllys said he had received increased death threats over the last year. In March, black city councilwoman Marielle Franco, who reportedly identified as bisexual, was shot and killed along with her driver. She was a friend and ally of Wyllys.
In a tweet, Wyllys said: “Preserving a threatened life is also a strategy to fight for better days.”
David Miranda, a Rio de Janeiro city council member who is also openly gay, is set to replace Wyllys in Congress, according to Brazilian news outlet O Globo.