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Many Still Oppose Same-Sex Unions in Brazil
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Brazil believe gay and lesbian couples should not be allowed to form civil unions, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 45 per cent of respondents share this opinion, down four points since August 2006.
In March 2004, judge Clademir Missaggia ruled that the Rio Grande do Sul state government must recognize same-sex unions, and allow gay and lesbian couples to jointly own property, and claim pensions and possessions if either partner dies. The remaining Brazilian states do not offer legal recognition to same-sex partners.
In 2006, Brazil’s top court stated in a ruling that same-sex couples are de facto partners, which means they are legally recognized but cannot enjoy quite the same benefits as couples partnered in civil unions. Marriage is a federal matter in the South American country, so states are not free to pass their own laws on it.
In 1994, current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Worker’s Party (PT) supported the introduction of a bill that sought to establish same-sex civil unions in Brazil. The bill has never been put to a vote.
Next month, the Brazilian government will host a summit to discuss topics related to same-sex couples. Lula has invited leaders from several associations working to advance gay and lesbian rights in order to put together the "Brazil Without Homophobia" legislation, which he says will feature a bill to allow civil unions of people of the same sex "with full rights."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions?
|
Mar. 2008 |
Aug. 2006 |
|
|
Support |
39% |
42% |
|
Oppose |
45% |
49% |
|
Indifferent |
14% |
7% |
|
Not sure |
2% |
2% |
Source: Datafolha / Folha de Sao Paulo
Methodology: Interviews with 4,044 Brazilian adults, conducted from Mar. 25 to Mar. 27, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.