The Legislative Debate on Abortion and Sexual Diversity in the 2018 Elections: An Anthropological Look at the Conservative Wave

Abstract

The article addresses the debate on abortion and sexual diversity in three instan-ces of the Legislative Branch in the 2018 election year: the House of Representati-ves, the Federal Senate, and the Legislative Assembly of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to analyze which references to abortion and sexual diversity were linked to candidates and parties, considering that the election results solidified the conservative wave. In qualitative research, we use discourse analysis methodology to examine statements searched in the legislative houses’ search engines through keywords. We also analyzed campaign materials produced by evangelical leaders. Abortion and sexual diversity report elements used in discursive disputes in a polarized political arena: conservatives and religious groups include abortion and “gender ideology” in their accusation strategies. At the same time, the progressive side protects diversity and minorities and denounces fake news.