Girls from Ipanema told to cover up
Independent on Sunday, The, Nov 13, 2005 by Hugh O'Shaughnessy

The girls from Ipanema may soon have to cover up. The assembly of the state of Rio de Janeiro has approved a ban on the sale of postcards of scantily clad women in the former capital's shops and kiosks. And in 10 days' time, the state governor must decide whether to ratify the ban.

What appears to be in jeopardy is the city's worldwide reputation for a lack of inhibition, but much more is at stake. As often in Brazilian politics, the serious issues facing the country " such as the millions of slum dwellers " will be covered over and sanitised behind an impenetrable veil of tacky frivolity and empty posturing.

The postcard ban was presented by deputy Alice Tamborindegui, who argued that they promoted sex tourism. She declared: 'We must look after our girls. And the first step is to prohibit the sale and display of pictures of women and girls on this sort of postcard.'

Supporters of the ban see it as a key part of Brazil's battle against prostitution, pornography and paedophilia. A prime target for assembly members has been the concentration of transsexuals and transvestites who traditionally parade after dark on Rio's streets, particularly in the area near Copacabana beach.
 

Assemblyman Edino Fonseca, an evangelical pastor and ally of the state governor, goes further. He calls for the 'conversion' of homosexuals and the outlawing of sex-change operations. In the background are the interests of the city's politicians who don't want sexual sleaze to endanger the profitability of the Pan- American Games to be staged in the city in July 2007. Behind the businessmen lurk the city's badly paid and fearsome police force.

The motion against the sexy postcard is being opposed by those wanting to preserve the spirit of carnival. The gay and lesbian community is particularly strong and last year orchestrated a 500,000-strong demo on Rio's streets against the state governor Rosinha Matheus, an opponent of gay unions. Neither side appears to care very much for the 6.5 million slum- dwellers, more than three- quarters of the population.

The state governor herself, Rosangela Rosinha Garotinho Barros Assed Matheus de Oliveira, and her husband, Anthony Garotinho, are key figures in the struggle. She has another 10 days to decide whether to ratify the ban. Rosinha, as she is generally known, and her chubby, bible-bashing spouse who was state governor immediately before her, are aligned against the sexy-postcard merchants and the tanga and bikini tendency.

Her critics say that today she is no more than a cat's paw for her husband, whose ostensible job is that of the state's secretary for security but who really runs the state. He is desperate to capture the religious vote in his campaign to become president in next year's elections and the postcard issue gives him an excellent platform.