Brazil's Buffoon Bigot Cancels U.S.Visit Under Fire

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has cancelled a planned trip to the U.S. after protests from gay rights and environmental campaigners. 

Bolsonaro was due to attend a ceremony in his honor in New York later in May organized by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce.  Several venues in the city had decided not to host the event.  Bolsonaro's spokesman blamed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and the "pressure of interest groups".

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Bolsonaro was a "very dangerous human being".  De Blasio told reporters, "He's dangerous not just because of his overt racism and homophobia, but because he is unfortunately the person with the most ability to be able to impact what happens in the Amazon going forward."

The American Museum of Natural History had originally agreed to hold a gala dinner for the Brazilian president-- but it drew heavy criticism for agreeing to host a ceremony at which Bolsonaro, who has advocated relaxing environmental policies, was scheduled to receive a person of the year award.

Other sponsors, including Delta Airlines, the Financial Times newspaper and management consultancy Bain & Co, have pulled out of the event.  "We have decided to withdraw our sponsorship of the ... 2019 Person of the Year Awards Gala Dinner," Bain & Co. said. "Encouraging and celebrating diversity is a core Bain principle."