Rio de Janeiro elects mayor who said homosexuality is 'evil'

'When the father dies, the spirit [of homosexuality] can be manifest in his son who readily neglects his wife and children to pursue this evil conduct,' Marcelo Crivella said

Rio's newly elected mayor, Marcelo Crivella, made controversial comments about gay people in a book in 1999 (AFP/Getty Images)

An evangelical bishop who once said homosexual people were “victims of a terrible evil” has been elected mayor of Rio de Janeiro, as Brazilian voters largely turned to right-wing politicians to deal with deteriorating social conditions in major cities.

Marcelo Crivella from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God won with 59 per cent of the vote to 41 over his socialist rival Marcelo Freixo, and said he would dedicate his efforts to improving “health, education, transport and public safety” in Brazil’s most popular tourist destination.

In the past Mr Crivella has taken hardline stances against homosexuality - which he described as “malign” - and abortion in books he authored. He previously called Catholics “demonic” and accused Hinduism of sheltering “unclean spirits”.

"Millions of people around the world are victims of this terrible evil," he wrote of homosexuality in his 1999 book Evangelizing Africa. "They live without peace and in a pitiable condition for a human being."

The bishop went on to warn such spirits could be "transmitted to the next generation" from father to son: "When the father dies, the spirit [of homosexuality] can be manifest in his son who readily neglects his wife and children to pursue this evil conduct."

At the end of a hard-fought campaign, Mr Crivella told supporters: “I pray to God that my modest public service will leave all Rio citizens with the example that your time comes if you do not give up.”

According to the 2010 census, Rio has the highest percentage of non-heterosexual males in Brazil, with 19.3% of its population being gay or bisexual men. The 21st iteration of its famous gay pride event, due to begin on November 13, is expected to attract more than 1,000,000 participants.

Mr Crivella was the clear favourite in the run up to the election according to various polls, despite the fact he had run for mayor in previous years and been unsuccessful.

Across Brazil, right-wing candidates have strengthened their influence at the expense of the Worker’s party, which commanded the majority of public support until the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff in August this year.

The Workers’ party lost every mayoral post it contested on Sunday, including its former strongholds of São Paulo and Recife.

Meanwhile, right-wing evangelicals are in the process of consolidating their power in Brazil’s federal congress, where they hold 199 of the 513 seats in the lower house.

Political analysts believe significant gains by right-wing politicians will set them in good stead in the run up to the presidential elections in 2018.