Religion and politics in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God: mobilization of gender and sexuality agendas in the Folha Universal newspaper (2018 and 2022)

a mobilização das pautas de gênero e sexualidade no jornal Folha Universal (2018 e 2022)

Abstract

This article analysis how the newspaper “Folha Universal” mobilized gender and sexuality agendas in the electoral years of 2018 and 2022. The newspaper belongs to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), where religious and political motivations intertwine prominently in electoral dispute contexts. Since the elections were centered on "morality," we focused our analysis on stances regarding gender and sexuality. Our research reveals that, in 2018, the "gender ideology" was one of the most mobilized themes, producing moral panic that pointed to an imminent threat to children, the family institution, religious freedom and education, in case of a left victory. In the 2022 elections, the newspaper objectively linked "gender ideology" and feminist and LGBTQIAP+ agendas to the Worker’s Party (WP) and the left, adopting a discourse demonizing these political actors. In both elections, the position adopted by the newspaper positioned the UCKG as one of Bolsonaro's main allies, especially concerning their positioning on the themes, common political enemies, and advocating for votes aligned with the political right.