BRAZIL: Homosexual couples exchange vows under Brazil's landmark law in attempt to break world record

Record ID: 335399

  • Title: BRAZIL: Homosexual couples exchange vows under Brazil's landmark law in attempt to break world record
  • Date: 24th June 2011
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (JUNE 22, 2011) (REUTERS) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) GENERAL VIEW OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE CLOSE OF CLOCK OUTSIDE BUILDING OF RIO'S CENTRAL TRAIN STATION GENERAL VIEW OF CENTRAL STATION BUILDING ENTRANCE DECORATED WITH COLORFUL BALLOONS BANNER OUTSIDE ROOM WHERE MASS GAY WEDDING CEREMONY WAS HELD READING: "RIO WITHOUT HOMOPHOBIA"
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA7MCWIZJ22STQU8ORRLHMWHZWP
  • Story Text: Dozens of gay and lesbian couples tied the knots on Wednesday (June 22) under Brazil's new same-sex union laws in a bid to set a new world record for mass gay weddings.
    In Rio de Janeiro, 43 homosexual couples exchanged "I do's" to celebrate the civil rights they have been granted by the country's top judges last month.
    Brazil's Federal Supreme Court legally recognized same-sex partnerships in May, in a landmark case for gay rights in a country with the world's largest population of Roman Catholics.
    The decision gave gay couples most of the rights enjoyed by heterosexual partners, including pension benefits, inheritance and, some lawyers say, possibly the right to adopt children.
    The ceremony was held in a register office in Rio's central train station, where the "Rio without Homophobia" government program is based.
    Head of Rio state's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Committee, Claudio Nascimento, said that the event marked an action towards a more open-minded country.
    "This is what we are here for -- to give meaning to our values, to freedom, to give meaning to a government for, to and with all the people, and to give meaning to our fight for a more free, democratic and egalitarian country," he told the audience.
    Twenty-nine-year-old Elizabeth Cunha and 27-year-old Flavia Nogueira were one of the many lesbian couples who exchanged wedding vows. Cunha said she was happy to have more legal rights.
    "It's very pleasant to have the opportunity of seeing our union being recognized by society and by the government. We have been together for five years and only now we will have the rights that all the other couples have," she said.
    Bank worker Luiz Carlos married his partner of more than 10 years Fernando Oliveira and said he was happy to be united under the law.
    "It doesn't mean that things (between us) are only legitimate after today. We have been together for 10 years, but, officially, we only exist from now on," he said.
    Most major cities in Brazil have an active and open gay community. Sao Paulo will host its yearly gay pride parade, the world's largest, on Sunday (June 26), with about 3 million people expected to attend.
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