As the United States debated the fate of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” in Brazil a general is making headlines for saying he doesn’t think gay men should be allowed to command troops.

Brazil doesn’t have a law forbidding gay soldiers from serving openly in the military, but it’s still a touchy subject. Case in point: Gen. Raymundo Nonato, who told a senate commission that a gay soldier in a command position wouldn’t be respected by his subordinates.

Reads an article: “The Senate commission, which had asked Nonato for his views on gays, unanimously approved his appointment. ... Brazilian gay-rights organizations and the Brazilian Bar Association said Nonato's comments made him unfit for the job as military court chief."

Watch video of Nonato (in Portuguese) here.