SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Last week, the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that civil unions between same-sex couples must be allowed. The justices voted 10-0 saying they believe that gay couples deserve the same rights and privileges as their heterosexual counterparts when it comes to alimony, death benefits, inheritances and other issues.
The ruling does not permit a full gay marriage. In Latin America, only Argentina and Mexico City permit same-sex marriage. Same-sex unions are legal in Uruguay and some states within Mexico outside of Mexico City, and Columbia grants same-sex couples inheritance rights.
Brazil is a predominantly a Roman Catholic county.