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Jean Wyllys | |
Born | (1974-03-10) March 10, 1974 (age 50) Alagoinhas, Bahia |
Alma mater | Federal University of Bahia |
Occupation(s) | Professor, journalist, politician |
Years active | 2011-present |
Political party | PSOL |
Jean Wyllys (born Jean Wyllys de Matos Santos on March 10, 1974 in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil) is a Brazilian professor, journalist and politician who rose to fame after winning the fifth season of Big Brother Brasil. He is also notable as being Brazil's first openly gay member of parliament.
Due to this, he has been compared to Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in the United States of America and gay rights activist.
Life
Wyllys was born in Alagoinhas, in the north-eastern state of Bahia, one of seven children. His mother was a washerwoman and his father an alcoholic. Wyllys later moved to Salvador and became a journalist. Later he appeared in Big Brother, winning with fifty million votes. Wyllys described the result as having "great political relevance I said I was homosexual and I still won the programme in a country that is homophobic."
Political career
In 2010 Wyllys was elected a federal MP, representing the Socialism and Freedom Party party.
References
- ^ Jean Wyllys, Brazil's first openly gay MP, takes fight to the religious right, Guardian, retrieved 27/1/2012