Diva More has addressed the rumors that she’s politically conservative.
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On Friday, August 4, Drag Race Brasil contestant Diva More shared an open letter addressing the long-standing rumors that she voted for conservative candidate Jair Bolsonaro – a politician that firmly stands against LGBTQ+ rights – in the last Brazilian presidential election, which took place in 2022.
The Drag Race Brasil star wrote:
“My name is Eduardo Jônata. I’m a makeup artist, actor, costume designer, and also known for my drag as Diva More. I’m writing this open letter to inform you that I’ve never voted in favor of former President Bolsonaro. I was never a ‘Bolsonarist,’ nor did I campaign for him.”
For context, the “Bolsonarist” label in Brazil is equivalent to something like “MAGA” in the US. Those labels refer to similar groups of conservative voters who support candidates like Trump and Bolsonaro in their respective countries.
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“Quite the contrary, I denounced the government’s disregard for the pandemic on my social networks and protested in the streets in favor of his impeachment. Through democracy, I chose to campaign for a fairer and less unequal Brazil. [For a country that is] more developed, with quality education and opportunity for all. This is my ideology. This is what I believe. I stayed true to my thinking.”
The queen then started to explain how she voted in each of the last few presidential elections in Brazil.
“In 2018, I voted for Ciro [Gomes] in the first round and [Fernando] Haddad in the second [round].”
For context, both of those candidates were opposing Bolsonaro in the 2018 elections, so More is claiming she voted against the conservative politician that year. Alas, Bolsonaro still went on to win the 2018 elections.
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More’s preferred candidate, Gomes, once again ran as a candidate in the 2022 presidential elections. However, he was not one of the top two candidates who received the largest number of votes and moved forward to the second round of the elections. Instead, the elections narrowed down to Lula (leftist candidate) and Bolsonaro (conservative candidate).
The queen wrote:
“In the 2022 elections, I openly campaigned for Ciro Gomes. At the end of the first-round vote [in the 2022 elections], I expressed my frustration on Instagram for [Ciro Gomes not making it to] the second round. This story was screenshot, taken out of context, and thrown into hate groups on social media.”
“As a result, I received a swarm of DMs. In regard to the messages I received from strangers, I ignored and blocked their respective profiles. Regarding messages from those I knew, out of consideration, I explained that I would not vote in the second round, as I had moved to Búzios after the voting card transfer deadlines.”
The criticism against More for choosing this political stance is that, by not voting in favor of Lula, she was ultimately not helping the LGBTQ+ community to defeat Bolsonaro.
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“I was also going through financial struggles. Traveling back to my electoral zone in Rio de Janeiro would involve expenses that were outside of my budget. Some people understood this situation. Others chose to ignore my explanation and went back to directing offensive messages against me.”
“I received over 800 messages of hate via DMs and was given the nickname of ‘Bolsonarist Drag Queen.’ Just like that, I was not only under threat, but I was also transformed into everything I fought against. And I had no chance of defense.”
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“‘But why are you only going public now to explain what happened, Diva?’ At the same time that I’m currently realizing a dream [of being cast on Drag Race Brasil], I’ve found myself even more exposed to this hatred that is motivated by a mistake. Now that the spotlight has turned to me, along came a new wave of disproportionate and repeated attacks from the side of the trenches where I also belong.”
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“Even though keeping your vote a secret is a constitutional right in a democracy, I understand the threat that the candidate in question poses to our LGBTQ+ community. And for that reason, I reiterate that I didn’t vote and have never campaigned for Bolsonaro. I don’t align with his priorities or worldview that he defends.”
“I hope that my version of the story can be heard and considered at this time. And I ask, with all my heart, that before you continue to reproduce this wave of hatred, you’re aware of the damage that an act or word can cause. Otherwise, the appropriate legal measures are being taken in regard to the actions and crimes committed, as well as my safety.”
Drag Race Brasil premieres August 30 on WOW Presents Plus.