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Loading ...Brazil president calls for action on same-sex unions
09.19.2008 12:21pm EDT
(Brasilia) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says it is time Congress acted to legalize same-sex unions.
Brazil is in the midst of elections and the popular president used the bully pulpit in a TV interview this week to chastise Congress. A proposed law that would give same-sex couples rights equal to those enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples has been stalled in Brazil’s Congress for more than a decade.“There are men living with men, and women living with women [who] build a good life together,” the President said in an interview on the government-run TV Brazil.
Da Silva also said that politicians who oppose same-sex unions and yet seek the votes of gay men and women are “hypocrites.”
Earlier this year, he called LGBT civil rights leaders to a precedent setting summit to discuss gay rights legislation and battling homophobia. The meeting involved representatives from the president’s office, cabinet members and legislators.
But in addition to stonewalling legislation on same-sex couple rights, the lower house of Congress last month stripped out portions of a new adoption bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to adopt children.
Opponents of gay adoption said that because the country does not recognize same-sex unions it would be wrong to allow those couples to jointly adopt.
Some Brazilian states, however, have gone ahead and recognized gay couples.
In 2002, Buenos Aires legalized civil unions. Two years later, the state of Rio Grande do Sul passed similar legislation.
In 2006, a Sao Paulo state court allowed a gay couple to adopt a 5-year-old girl.
Leave it to Lula to show leadership in this area. Unfortunately, same gender marriage rights are not the only ones that should be addressed in Brazilian elections. Indigenous protections, environmental strategies and poverty are some of the other major issues. Oh, and note to the author, “Buenos Aires” is the capital city of Argentina, not a state in Brazil.
I couldnt agree more, it’s hard for me to remain patriotic for a country that shuns my family and i (two dads and 3 children) on a daily basis all because of conservative “christians” and a government that doesnt want to push the envelope and recognize we are here. I read all the time how our country is becoming de-religioned hmmmm I wonder why that is wake up “christians” we are not to judge but be open and accepting of ALL of our fellow man just ask my minister who is the head of a loving,accepting,and caring group of REAL christians
It’s pretty sad when a journalist thinks that Buenos Aires, the Spanish-named capital of Argentina, is part of Portuguese-speaking Brazil. And this is a gay news site. My god, has s/he not seen Evita?!
All I can say is that it’s good to see that more and more true believers in freedom and equality are stepping up and being heard. From Europe to Africa, from Canada to Brazil, the world is changing and those who do not change will sadly, be left behind. Freedom like life, evolves and becomes more inclusive…..it seems a shame that a country once touted as the leader of the free world seems less so every day. Time for Americans to remember what they once stood for and rid themselves of the yoke that is unchecked religious conservatism or face the sad and slow fall into fascism.
Bud, it always amazes me that more gay folk do not look towards the Libertarian Party. It’s a party that looks towards limited government, is socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Ohhh, and they believe that gay folk are actual people.
Actually, it is very helpful to put the struggle for human rights in perspective and to make comparisons between countries. The United States is so very far behind most of the civilized world — especially compared to Western Europe where I see marriage equality being universally accepted across the board in the next ten to fifteen years (Latin American and Asia may take a while longer).
Ironically, the United states is always the first to brag about how egalitarian it is, when in truth it is one of the most oppressive countries of all Western Nations in terms of universal civil rights. It is also absolutely backwards on universal health care — which most civilized nations consider a “right” for everyone and not just a “privilege” for the well to do.
The president does have a good point, although, it is too soon to see if the Brazil legislators will enact a national civil unions bill.
Also comparing her comments to the context of the U.S., might not be entirely…helpful.
Da Silva also said that politicians who oppose same-sex unions and yet seek the votes of gay men and women are “hypocrites.”
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….Hmmmm, kind of like most Democrats and especially Barrack Obama. Oh, I’m sorry Obama and Biden ARE for civil unions (not marriage)– the legal and moral equivalent of separate lunch counters for Gays.
So, all you GLBTs out there grease your hair back and put on your hoop skirts. Welcome to the 1950’s in Gay America 2008.
We are now the lavender equivalent of the dreaded “N’ word.
When are we ever going to have a “Gay” Martin Luther King?
Please don’t tell me we have to work with a broken system and its cronies. Did Gandhi? Did Dr. King? Did Rosa Parks?
Did any of the pro-choice, or even anti-choice leaders, just throw parties for greedy politicians and demand nothing in return?
…instead we have the HRC (HAPPY to ROCK with your CONTRIBUTIONS) and other collaborators with the oppressors.
How are we to fix a broken system if we keep returning the same people to power who keep it broken? Unless we encourage the formation of a viable third party we are doomed to be the victims of the status quo. And there is no room for us in that fixed, non-progressive version of American.
A sad…very sad state of affairs indeed.
*(My blogsite can be found by clicking on my name at the heading of this post)
I could swear I’ve seen this article and the comment correcting the location of Buenos Aires before… Am I experiencing deja vu or is this a repost?
“Some Brazilian states, however, have gone ahead and recognized gay couples.
In 2002, Buenos Aires legalized civil unions. Two years later, the state of Rio Grande do Sul passed similar legislation.
In 2006, a Sao Paulo state court allowed a gay couple to adopt a 5-year-old girl.”
Just for the record, Buenos Aires is not a brazilian state. It’s the capital of Argentina.
It is so refreshing when a nations leader speaks so forcefully for human rights and the rightful place of it’s gay and lesbian citizens which is full and equal inclusion in society. I hope that Brazil is awarded the next Olympics after London