No Case to Answer OR Gay in Brasilia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

[Update, 9/1218: the recent election of far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro as president of Brazil has sent waves of misgiving across gay and other minority groups. The world waits with bated breath to see what happens next.]

A reader living in Brazil has been in touch to say how much he and his partner enjoy living there. I have to say it makes a change to have someone send such a delightful, feel-good email; and it inspired this villanelle.

Cathedral of Brasilia 

(image taken from the Internet)

NO CASE TO ANSWER or GAY IN BRASILIA

Here, same sex couples live openly

far less looking over a shoulder in fear,

in this long-time LGBT-friendly city

Homophobes, a relative minority

(though just how many closets unclear);

here, same sex couples live openly

No closet approaches to sexuality,

Human Rights respected, and held dear

in this long-time LGBT-friendly city

While others fighting on for equality

(in a world whose prejudices made clear)

here, same sex couples live openly

Love poses no threat to that morality

that socio-cultural-religious groups revere

in this long-time LGBT-friendly city

Worldwide, a message for inhumanity

its peoples would do well to look-see-hear;

here, same sex couples live openly

in this long-time LGBT-friendly city

Copyright R. N. Taber 2018