Brazilian President
Expresses Support For
Same-Sex Unions
RIO DE JANEIRO -
Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva on
Thursday defended civil
unions for same-sex
couples in the country,
saying the "hypocrisy"
on the matter must end.
"We must stop this
hypocrisy because we
know they exist. There
are men living with men,
women living with women,
and many times they live
extraordinarily well,"
Lula said in an
interview with a local
TV station.
"They build a life
together, they work
together and that it was
I am favorable," he
said.
He criticized those who
are against same-sex
unions.
"One thing that amazes
me is why politicians
who are against
(homosexual unions) do
not refuse their votes,
why Brazil does not
refuse their income
tax," said the
president.
"The important thing is
for them to be Brazilian
citizens, for them to be
committed to the nation.
The rest is their
problem. I support the
civil union," he added.
However, Lula stopped
short of endorsing any
federal government
measures regarding
same-sex unions, saying
Congress and local
Houses of
Representatives were
acting on the matter.
In 2005, Brazil's Rio
Grande do Sul state
granted homosexual
couples the right of
registering their unions
in any notary public
office. Couples who
register can jointly own
property, establish
custody of children, and
claim the right to
pensions and property
when one partner dies.
In other Brazilian
states, homosexual
couples may try to
register their unions,
but the notary public
office is allowed to
refuse the request.
|
