Renildo José dos Santos
Brazilian politician (1956–1993)
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Renildo José dos Santos (2 April 1956 – 10 March 1993) was a Brazilian politician. Renildo is considered one of the first openly elected LGBT politicians in Brazil.[1][2] In 1993, he was murdered after publicly declaring his bisexuality.[3][4]
Son of Marinete Maria de Lima, Renildo was born in Coqueiro Seco, Alagoas.[5] Renildo dos Santos became a municipal councilman in Coqueiro Seco.[6] Renildo faced constant persecution and threats, being prevented from entering the Municipal Council and threatened with the loss of his mandate.[7][8][9]
Renildo was kidnapped by armed men on March 10, 1993, and days later, his body was found mutilated and decapitated.[10][11] The case had great international repercussion and was reported to Amnesty International.[12] In 2015, those responsible for the crime began serving their sentences,[13] after a Luiz Marcelo Falcão, a retired second lieutenant of the Alagoas Military Police,[14] confessed to his involvement in the murder of Renildo José dos Santos.[15] Falcão admitted to participating in the brutal crime, which occurred in March 1993, when Renildo was kidnapped, tortured, and decapitated.[7] Falcão's confession also implicated José Renato de Oliveira, a local landowner, as the mastermind behind the murder.[16] Oliveira, who was 80 years old at the time of his arrest, was accused of ordering the assassination due to Renildo's opposition to his political influence in Coqueiro Seco.[13]
Renildo's memory is remembered by LGBT activists and he is honored with the Renildo José dos Santos Human Rights Award,[17] created by the Grupo Gay da Bahia.[18][19] This award recognizes individuals who contribute significantly to the promotion of citizenship and human rights in Brazil.[20][21]