Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stepped up to defend gay rights yesterday in an interview to TV Brasil. For the first time ever, Lula said loud and clear that he is in favor of civil unions, and that it is time to stop being hypocritical about the subject.
"There are men living with men, women living with women, and many times they live a balanced and even extraordinary life," stated the president. "The one thing that really bothers me is the fact the the politicians who are against civil unions never refuse a gay vote, and the state (which denies gays of civil unions) does not refuse taxes paid by homosexuals. Why is that? The only thing that matters is that these individuals are Brazilian citizens, and respect the Constitution. The rest is up to them, and I am in favor of civil unions," he added.
On more gay rights advances, this week the Superior Court Of Justice ruled that there is no reason why a stable same-sex couple cannot be recognized as a family under the country's laws. This was the first time the high court considered the rights of a homosexual couple under family law, rather than patrimonial law.
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