Pride parade held at Paulista Avenue, in Sao Paulo
OK, so it is only civil unions and not full marriage equality – but this is pretty big. Brazil’s Supreme Court voted 10 to 0 on Friday to recognize the rights of gay couples here to share in each other’s inheritances, pensions, and health plans, and a legal route to divide belongings after a separation.
“Those who opt for a homosexual union cannot be treated less than equally as citizens,” Justice Camen Lucia said. The change is backed by Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff
With 200 million people, this economic power is also the world’s largest largely Catholic nation – continuing the tradition of centres of Catholicism being among the most enthusiastic gay rights supporters (think Spain, think Argentina, think Portugal).
Here is how Brazil compares globally
Tags: Brazil civil unions, Brazil gay marriage, Dilma Rousseff gay marriage, Justice Carmen Lucia, Justice Ricardo Lewandowski
