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Content about Brazilian law

May 14, 2013
Judges clear the way for gay marriage throughout Brazil

National Council of Justice rules government offices that issue marriage licenses have no standing to reject gay couples

Gay couples across Brazil can begin applying for marriage licenses with or without a marriage equality law passed by the country's congress, according to a ruling Tuesday (14 May) by Brazil's top judicial panel.

The National Council of Justice said government offices in Brazil do not have the legal standing to deny the licenses to same-sex couples.

May 1, 2013
Two more Brazil states pass gay marriage

Paraíba and Santa Catarina have become the 13th and 14th states to legalize equal marriage, meaning 60% of Brazilians can get married without going through the two-step process

Santa Catarina and Paraíba have become the 13th and 14th states to approve the right to marry to same-sex couples.

As Freedom to Marry notes, this means nearly three in five Brazilians have the right to marry their loved one.

April 19, 2013
Rio de Janeiro state legalizes gay marriage

A high court judge in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has passed a ruling authorizing gay marriag in the Brazilian state

The General Magistrate of Justice of Rio de Janeiro state, Judge Valmir de Oliveira Silva, published a legal ruling authorizing gay marriage in the state

Rio de Janeiro has become today (April 19) the 11th state of Brazil to institute marriage equality.

The other states being: São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe, Piauí, Ceará and the Federal District of Brazilia.

December 21, 2012
São Paulo court guarantees same-sex marriages

The Court of São Paulo ruled that state notaries are now required to register same-sex marriages without first getting court approval

São Paulo state notaries are now obliged to recognize same-sex marriages.

According to Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, this court ruling permits gay couples to obtain a marriage certificate without needing prior approval from a court.

This week's court order also means that same-sex couples already registered in a civil union do not need court approval to convert their status into marriage.

December 18, 2012
Calabrian Catholic bishop says gay couples 'should have rights'

Bishop Giuseppe Fiorini Morosini from Locri-Gerace recognizes that gay couples 'should claim some rights, but they can not ask for marriage'

An Italian Catholic bishop said that ‘same-sex couples should have their civil rights recognized.’

Bishop Giuseppe Fiorini Morosini, who is in charge of the Locri-Gerace area in Calabria, recognized same-sex couples’ rights in a letter sent to the churches of his area.

Such a recognition by the Catholic hierarchy is uncommon, but bishop Morosini added: ‘However, same-sex couples are not families. We can not give them the right to a regular marriage.

December 10, 2012
Mass gay 'wedding' held in Rio, Brazil

Almost 100 gay and lesbian couples had their unions legalized in symbolic ceremony

Almost 100 gay and lesbian couples took part in a mass 'wedding' in Rio, Brazil, yesterday (9 December).

The 92 same-sex couples joined the ceremony which legalized their unions just short of marriage status, reported AFP.

However, the service at the Rio courthouse was mainly symbolic and participants will have to take their vows again in front of a judge today (10 December).

October 17, 2012
How Argentina is bringing the fight for gay marriage to you

Gay Star News speaks to Esteban Paulón, president of the Argentine LGBT Federation (FALGBT), about how the LGBT rights group is bringing marriage equality, gay parents' rights and transgender rights to your home country

Is same-sex marriage not yet legal in your country?

Consider coming to Argentina, where since May 2012, gay couples from abroad can legally wed in four provinces including the capital city of Buenos Aires.

All you need is a copy of your passport and the address of your hotel.

Be forewarned, because your marriage will likely not be recognized when you go back home.

October 5, 2012
Brazil state of Rio annuls gay protection law

The attorney general of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil annulled an anti-discrimination law protecting LGBT people. Campaigners demand a new law to be introduced as soon as possible

The attorney general of the state of Rio de Janeiro annulled a law that protected LGBT from discrimination.

The attorney general cancelled on Tuesday (2 October) anti-discrimination law that has been in-force for over 12 years, stating that it was introduced in an unconstitutional manner.

The law was introduced in 2000 by the then legislator and state deputy, Carlos Minc, who now serves as the Rio de Janeiro state minister of the environment. It was voted and passed by the state’s assembly.

October 4, 2012
Despite the law, gay Italians find a way to 'adopt' a child

LGBT association Equality Italia launches a campaign to get more gays and lesbians to 'adopt' a child living in poverty abroad

The LGBT Italian association Equality Italia has launched a campaign to encourage single gays or lesbians, or same-sex couples to 'adopt' a child living in poverty abroad.

The campaign is called ‘Io ce l’ho grande il cuore’ or ‘My heart is very big’ and it's thought to be the first of its type to target LGBT people.

Many Italians use 'long distance adoption' to support a child living in poverty in another country - though the 'adoption' does not, of course, make them the legal parents or guardians of the child.

September 30, 2012
Brazil state of São Paulo celebrated gay partnership day

The Brazilian state of São Paulo organized a collective ‘gay partnership day’ in which 46 couples collectively registered their relationship as a civil union

The Brazilian state of São Paulo organized a collective ‘gay partnership day’ in which 46 couples had their relationship registered as a civil union, followed by a religious blessing and an all night party.

The event was a partnership between the government of the state of São Paulo, its department of justice and the leisure centre of northeastern traditions (CTN) in the city of São Paulo.

September 29, 2012
Gay bi-national couples in the US will now face different rules for deportation

US. Department of Homeland Security announces gay bi-national couples might not face deportation hearings

The US Department of Homeland Security will soon announce gay bi-national couples are eligible to have their deportations temporarily suspended.

According to the Associated Press, Secretary Janet Napolitano sent a letter to 84 Democratic lawmakers announcing the policy change. In the US, immigration regulations are handled by Homeland Security.

September 19, 2012
Brazil trans woman brutally murdered

A trans woman became the latest victim in a spate of trans murders in state of state of São Paulo, Brazil

A 20 year-old trans woman was murdered in the early hours of Sunday (16 September) in the city of Votuporanga, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The body was found near a dumpster in a rural region of the city. The victim’s genitals and one ear were found to have been cut off.

The Brazilian military police, who are investigating the case, suspect that the trans woman, who was a sex worker, was possibly taken to the remote location and murdered by a client.

The police still has no clues as to the identity of the murderer.

September 1, 2012
‘Maternity’ leave granted for gay father in Brazil

A Brazilian gay father will become the first to receive the same parental leave as a woman after a Brazilian court found that it was discriminatory that a same-sex couple should receive less combined parental leave than a heterosexual couple

A gay Brazilian man has become the first man to be given equal parental leave to a mother after he and his civil union partner adopted a baby.

Normally Brazilian fathers are only given five days off work after becoming parents, while mothers receive four months off, but a Brazilian court found that it was discriminatory for a gay couple to receive less combined parental leave than a heterosexual couple.

As a result Lucimar da Silva will become the first Brazilian man to receive the same parental leave as a woman.

May 25, 2012
Brazil takes first steps to legalizing gay marriage

Politicians in Brazil have made a small step to recognizing same-sex partnerships but the courts are still far ahead of them

Brazil’s politicians have made a small step to catching up with their judges and legalizing same-sex marriage.

A proposal to allow same-sex civil unions has been before Brazil’s Congress for 16 years.

But yesterday (24 May) the human rights committee in Brazil’s Senate approved a change in the law to say a civil union is between two people, without saying they have to be opposite genders.

However even that stops short of full gay marriage. And the bill still has to pass through other senate committees before it can get to a full vote and become law.

May 11, 2012
Colombian Catholic priest's gay partner wins his pension

The Constitutional Court of Colombia makes history by ordering that a Catholic priest's secret partner of 28 years is entitled to pension rights - despite vow of chastity

The gay partner of a dead Catholic priest has been told he is allowed to have his lover's pension - despite the cleric's vow of chastity.

The Constitutional Court of Colombia found in favor of the partner, who lived with the priest for 28 years before his death in 2009, in  landmark ruling, unprecedented in the history of Colombia and possibly Latin America.

April 26, 2012
US Congress member seeks social security equality for same-sex couples

Linda Sanchez says 'No American should ever be treated differently by the country they love because of who they love'

A California congresswoman on Thursday (26 April) introduced a bill aimed at ending a Social Security Administration policy that denies benefits to same-sex couples.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, who represents her state's 39th congressional district, was flanked at a Capitol Hill press conference by LGBT advocates from across the country including actor George Takei.