Analysis
The exact quote—including the phrase *'Se encontrar dois homens se beijando na rua, vou bater'* (If I see two men kissing in the street, I’ll hit them)—was published in *Playboy Brasil*’s June 2011 issue. Bolsonaro never denied the remark; in fact, he reiterated similar anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in subsequent interviews and public statements. The statement aligns with his long-documented record of homophobic rhetoric, including legislative actions targeting LGBTQ+ rights. Fact-checkers like *Aos Fatos* and *Agência Pública* have verified the quote’s authenticity.
Background
Bolsonaro, then a federal deputy, was known for controversial statements on social issues, including opposition to same-sex marriage (legalized in Brazil in 2013) and LGBTQ+ rights. The 2011 *Playboy* interview was part of a series where he discussed his conservative views, which later became central to his political brand. His remarks drew widespread condemnation from human rights groups but resonated with his evangelical and far-right base.
Verdict summary
Jair Bolsonaro did make this homophobic statement in a 2011 *Playboy Brasil* interview, as confirmed by multiple credible sources and his own later acknowledgment.