BRAZIL: Over a dozen same-sex couples marry as historic new law goes into effect

Record ID: 277800

  • Title: BRAZIL: Over a dozen same-sex couples marry as historic new law goes into effect
  • Date: 22nd March 2013
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MARCH 21, 2013) (REUTERS) LOHREN BEAUTY, STYLIST, SPEAKING WITH DECO RIBEIRO, JOURNALIST SMALL CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE BUILDING SEATED COUPLE SMILING SIGN THAT READS: WEDDING CELEBRATION SEATED COUPLE HAVING PICTURE TAKEN CLOSE UP OF OPEN BOX OF WEDDING BANDS COUPLE BEING MARRIED RING BEING PUT ON HAND DURING WEDDING CEREMONY MARRYING COUPLE SIGNING DOCU
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAER20X1AZ5N89CCJ0HAC1GUKCJ
  • Story Text: Wedding bells were ringing for 16 same-sex couples who tied the knot on Thursday (March 21) outside the capital city of Sao Paulo.
    The mood was happy, almost giddy for some, as excited brides and grooms waited for their turns.
    One by one, the couples stood before the justice of the peace and repeated their vows, exchanged wedding bands and, finally, shared a kiss.
    Journalist Deco Ribeiro said that he believed the ceremony had both personal and political implications.
    "Now we're having a wedding like anyone else, and for us it's great. It's a personal victory because I am getting married to the person I love and its a political victory because, we've won the right like everyone else has since they were born, but homosexuals have to fight for it. We fought. We won," he said.
    Since 2011, same-sex couples in Brazil could be married-- but only after undergoing a civil union and, subsequently, asking a court to allow that civil union to be converted into a legal marriage.
    Last December, a judge ruled that same-sex couples could marry directly, without first undergoing a civil union and asking a judge for authorization.
    The new ruling went into effect on March 1 and was welcomed by gay Brazilians like Lohren Beauty who looked forward to their own weddings.
    "It's good that today, officially, we can say that we are a family by law," Beauty said.
    With 125 million Roman Catholics, Brazil has the largest number of Catholics of any country in the world-- but many Brazilian Catholics are only nominally so.
    Wearing simple, white gowns, brides Elize and Nariman Martins discussed whether or not the Pope would make changes in the Church's attitude toward same-sex marriage.
    "I believe that he (the Pope) will stay the same. He will stay the way he is," said Elize Martins.
    Nariman Martins said she believed the country's religious groups would oppose the same-sex weddings.
    "There is going to be opposition, because of what he represents. It (marriage) is one of the most active institutions in Brazil today, with the Catholic Church, here and outside Brazil," she said.
    In what may be the new pontiff's first overseas trip, Pope Francis is expected to visit Brazil in July, to participate in World Youth Day.
    Brazil has been on the forefront of gay rights in Latin America, where only Argentina and Mexico City recognize same-sex marriages.
    Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state, boasts one of the world's largest gay pride events with millions of revelers participating every year.
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