Last Tuesday, the Brazilian National Council of Justice passed a resolution, which does not allow notaries to refuse same sex marriage ceremonies. According to Brazil’s Supreme Court, since it is not given any legislative powers, the task to officiate marriage falls down to notaries. Reports also indicate that just recently, 12 Brazilian states allowed same sex marriage to be practiced and recognized as a legal and binding act between two persons.
Same sex marriage has always been getting the attention of protest groups and anti-same sex marriage movements. The protests keep coming since not everyone can accept the fact that every human being is entitled to be protected by the same law. Reports indicate that there is a huge percentage of the population not yet ready to accept this.
Equality should be practiced
In one of his interviews, Joaquim Barbosa, the president of the Council of Justice stated that the reason behind the implementation of the said resolution is to make known to Brazilian citizens that the law embraces the needs of the society. It cannot be denied that gay people are also citizens of the country and have every right to be protected by existing legislation. He also added that modern Brazilian society is going through a lot of changes and that the National Council of Justice should be able to adapt with changing times.
Enjoying the same rights as everyone
Same sex marriage has been recognized and practiced in Brazil since 2011. Law makers put a lot of time and effort in debating same sex marriage issues but there was slow or no progress at all in the past few years. According to the Brazilian Supreme Court, same-sex couples are also befitted with the same rights as everyone. Same-sex couples are entitled to a joint declaration of property as well as pension and tax distributions. Health benefits cannot also be denied them just because a couple has the same sexual orientation. This is the reason why the Supreme Court made sure that same sex couples will have every right everyone is enjoying through the resolution it has passed.
Gay marriage around the world
Brazil is not the only country wherein same sex marriage is slowly gaining traction. Countries around the world are gradually moving forward toward accepting gay marriages as a legal right.
Besides Brazil in Latin America, Argentina and Uruguay are the only two other countries recognizing same sex marriage in the continent. New Zealand and France have also recently acknowledged same sex marriage last April. Reports indicate that allowing same sex marriage in different countries means that more and more people are getting aware and open minded about this type of marriage.
Boris Dittrich, a Dutch gay rights activist was inspired when he saw gay people marching in the streets of Tokyo demanding the recognition of same sex marriage in Japan. According to the widely acclaimed former lawmaker, the world is now starting to get small and when something good happens on the other side of the world, people get inspired especially if they can relate to the situation.
Photo Credit: LGBT Flag in Brazil
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