The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Crivella (PRB), announced on social media that he had censored copies of the comic book "Avengers - The Children's Crusade," exhibited at the Book Biennial.
"The Rio de Janeiro City Council has ordered the organizers of the Book Biennial to collect this book [Avengers - The Children's Crusade], which features sexual content for minors," Crivella said in a video.
The comic shows two boys caressing and kissing, fully dressed.
According to the organization, the city sent an extrajudicial notification to the Biennial, requesting that the books be sealed and come with a classification or warning that there are material or scenes prohibited for minors.
"Books like this need to be wrapped in black sealed plastics and on the outside warning the contents. Therefore, the City of Rio de Janeiro is protecting the minors of our city," the mayor said in the video.
The Biennial organization has stated that it will not collect or pack any book because the content is neither inappropriate nor pornographic.
In a note, the Biennale also said that "gives voice to all audiences, without distinction, as a democracy should be. This is a plural festival where everyone is welcome and represented. Also, next weekend, the Book Biennial will have two panels to discuss the Trans and LGBTQA + literature."
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon