Malu, 8 years old, PEITA councilor who changed the name of Cmei Arco-Íris

You know those things worth living to see? We want you to meet Maria Luíza Menegon, 8 years old. This girl went to the Chamber of Councilors of Palmas, in Tocantins, to express her indignation at the change of name of Cmei Arco-Íris to Cmei Romilda Budke Guarda. Councilman Filipe Martins, author of the proposal, thinks that the word rainbow makes “an apology for homosexuality”. But he says he is not prejudiced.

Our inspiring muse went to her neighbor, councilor Júnior Gero, to ask why the exchange was made and made it very clear that a rainbow, for her, is a symbol of purity. Junior, a darling, invited her to speak her mind at the Chamber.

On Tuesday, the 7th, Malu made her speech wearing Lute Como Uma Garota. It was the first time she wore her T-shirt. Who told us this was his mother, the journalist Niceia Menegon. Congratulations Nic, witnessing this moment must have been emotional. Our eyes fill with tears just imagining the pride you felt seeing your daughter defending love.

Take the tissue and read Malu's speech in full:

"Good morning everybody.

On a beautiful and sunny morning, a very curious little gray elephant woke up with a big doubt: what would be the color of love? So he decided to go out into the forest to find the answer.

He asked all the animals he met along the way: “What is the color of love?”.

“What is the color of love?” he asked.

The forest animals tried to help the little gray elephant, each one spoke a color... the monkey said that the color of HIS love was green; the tiger said that if the sky was blue, then the color of love might be yellow; already the lion said that the sun was yellow and hot, so love could be red.

- Is the color of love white, Ms. Zebra?

- No! Love is so beautiful that it can only be pink! said the zebra lady.

Is it yellow? Is it blue? Is it green, red or orange?

After asking all the animals he found along the way, the day was almost over and the little elephant still felt unsatisfied with the answers...

But there was someone he hadn't asked yet, his mother.

- Mom, does anyone know what the color of love is? ...nobody could tell me the color of love.

The mother, with all delicacy and understanding said:

- What is the color of love? I tell you, pup: it's as dark as night, as bright as the sun. Think of a color and there's love! Love is all color, it's everything everywhere. It's all the colors around us, because nothing else matters when you've found love.

And the little gray elephant was very happy and satisfied to have found the answer to his big question.

This is the story of the book “What is the color of love?” by an author from Scotland, Linda Strachan. I got it when I was 4 years old.

It is from this story that I come here to ask for more tolerance, more respect and more commitment to people, children and society.

I still don't quite understand how public authorities work. But I know that a politician has a duty to work and build a better society every day, without corruption, without prejudice, without inequality, without misery and, above all, without putting his personal interests ahead of everyone's interests.

When I learned that a councilor managed to change the name of a day care center because, for him, the name “rainbow” would be a bad influence on children, I felt very sad and incapable.

Sad to realize that some adults forget that they were once a child.
Unable to understand what could make a rainbow so bad and bizarre not to be worthy of having a day care center in Palmas with that name.
Unable to understand why so many people agreed to change the rainbow name to the name of a person few people know.

Men and women councilors, no child is born prejudiced. It is the adults who teach this. And it is adults who can also teach respect, tolerance and love.

I, as a child, say:

Prejudice does not represent me.

Disrespect does not represent me.

Intolerance does not represent me.

Hate does not represent me.

We are different from each other, but we have the right to equality. Men, women, blacks, or gays, we are all human beings and we must respect and welcome each one's condition, space and opinion.

We all have a mission to contribute to a world with more respect, tolerance, peace and love among people. Just like our parents, governments must set an example for this to happen.

Thank you Councilman Júnior Geo for the invitation, for the opportunity to be here today representing children who are often not heard.

So... that nature offers us as many rainbows as necessary for us to learn to live in balance and harmony, between men and nature.

May the colors continue coloring the sky, the world and people's lives. That colors are NOT a reason for prejudice. May respect and tolerance always be greater, for a better future for all of us.

My name is Maria Luiza, I'm 8 years old, I study the 3rd year of elementary school.
Thanks."