Brazil's Top Court Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions

Brazil's Supreme Court ruled Thursday night that civil unions between same-sex couples must be allowed in this nation with more Roman Catholics than any other. In a 10-O vote, with one abstention, the justices said gay couples deserve the same legal rights as heterosexual pairs when it comes to alimony, retirements benefits of a partner who dies, and inheritances, among other issues. The ruling, however, stopped short of legalising gay marriage. In Latin America, that is legal only in neighbouring Argentina and Mexico City. Same-sex civil unions granting some rights to homosexual couples are legal in Uruguay and in some states of Mexico outside the capital. Colombia's Constitutional Court has granted same-sex inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to their insurance plans. 

Brazil's ruling sets a judicial precedent that must be honoured by all public institutions, including notary publics where civil unions must be registered. "This is a historic moment for all Brazilians, not just homosexuals. This judgement will change everything for us in society - for the better", said Marcelo Cerqueira with the gay rights group Grupo Gay de Bahia. "Gays, lesbians and transsexuals will be recognised as being more human. We'll be more accepted by having our rights honoured." 

The request for the Supreme Court to recognise civil unions came two years ago from the Brazilian attorney general's office, largely because legislation that would give same-sex couples the rights enjoyed by married heterosexual couples had been stalled in Congress for more than a decade. Brazil's constitution defines a "family entity" as "a stable union between a man and a women." But the attorney general's office argued the clause is only a definition and not a limitation, and thus the charter does not say a stable union can "only" be between a man and a women. The attorney general also argued that the constitution does not specifically forbid a civil union between people of the same sex - and that failing to recognise same-sex unions violates the charter's defence of human dignity and equality. 

Source: Yahoo News 

[The two Brazilian hotties that appear in the pictures are Marcelo and Luis from gay adult website Bang Bang Boys - a site that specialises in sexy Latino guys] 

Avenue Q Puppets to Marry: Is Bert & Ernie Next?

Two characters from the hit musical Avenue Q will make history Sunday by becoming the first same-sex puppet couple to marry in New York State, according to a statement by the shows producers. Rod, a Wall Street Republican, and Ricky, a Chelsea hunk, will tie the knot at City Hall early Sunday, in time to make it back for a 3pm matinee performance, the announcement noted. "To have this finally happen for us - especially so soon after Kate and Will - is unbelievable to me," Rod said in a statement announcing the engagement. "I realise there are a lot of broken hearts out there now that Ricky and I are off the market - step back all you chorus boys! - but I've known known since day one that Ricky is the husband for me," the puppet added. Avenue Q, an off-colour comedy about recent college graduates finding their way in the Big Apple, opened on Broadway in 2003 and moved to the Off-Broadway New World Stages two years ago. Now if only Bert and Ernie would follow suit ...

Source: DNAinfo.com

New Zealand: Sixty Percent Support Gay Marriage

Look out Australia, now the Kiwi's are pushing for gay marriage too. A new random telephone poll of 500 people (there are only 4.4 million people in New Zealand, and approximately 50 million sheep) showed that 60% of them believe same sex marriages should be permitted in New Zealand, reports GayNZ.com. "Females are in favour of same sex marriages to a larger extent than males by 66 percent to 54 percent," the report specifies. "Likewise, a higher proportion of males than females oppose same sex marriages at 41 percent to 27 percent. The attitude to same sex marriage is strongly related to age group; in the age group 15-34 years, 70 percent are in favour compared to 44 percent among those 55 years and over."

The poll result closely matches similar studies carried out here in Australia (where support for same sex marriages is currently sitting at 57 percent). New Zealand's same-sex couples have been allowed full legal recognition of their relationships under the country's Civil Union law reform in 2005, but the union ceremonies are not called 'marriages'. The latest research see's Kiwi gay groups promise to push for full same-sex marriage as the country heads to a general election later this year. "The only way to ensure that we keep up the pressure on the politicians in power at all times," says the Rainbow Wellington lobby group.

Source: Same Same