Camboriú court convicts pastor for inciting LGBTQIA+ prejudice

A criminal court in Camboriú, Santa Catarina, has convicted radio broadcaster and pastor Silas de Souza for inciting prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ community through social communication. The sentence, issued on August 3, 2026, by Judge Luiz Octavio David Cavalli, follows an incident from November 2023.

During a radio program preceding the elections for the Guardianship Council (Conselho Tutelar), de Souza instructed listeners to vote exclusively for evangelical candidates while advising against the selection of LGBTQIA+ candidates. He claimed such individuals were incompatible with the role and would act against Christian family values.

While the defense argued the statements were protected by religious freedom and proselytism, the court rejected these claims. The ruling emphasized that religious freedom does not serve as a license to promote discrimination or prejudice against historically vulnerable groups protected by law.