Brazil holds first gay marriage

[The Mikado]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/06/27/world/americas/AP-LT-Brazil-Gay-Marriage.html?_r=1&hp

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Thoughts?  If this extends to full legalization, it will be a big deal.  Between Brazil and Argentina, South America seems to be moving in the right direction.

[King]

If Brazillian gays are getting married, what will become of the houseboy import industry in America?

[JonBidinger]

I'm not sure what the legal procedure would be regarding this case, but the first question is, will other judges uphold this ruling? And what is the jurisdiction of the court that approved the marriage? Either way, i hope that the fast changing legal realities are enough to push the current government into formally legalizing marriage equality, although I believe that Rousseff was against marriage equality during her campaign.

Between Brazil and Argentina, South America seems to be moving in the right direction.

A marriage equality law has also been submitted in the Uruguayan parliament, with government approval, which should pass sometime this year. I also have hopes for the current Columbian court case.

[Holmes]

This is sort of how it started in Argentina, if I recall correctly. Although there wasn't a crappy civil union intermediate involved.

[RodPresident]

Marriage equality is very difficult to be allowed through Legislative Power. Evangelical caucus is very powerful and can make blackmail to government, like in anti-hate kit. Dilma had to deal with evangelicals about moral questions, like abortion, during campaign. Even if Dilma wanted, she wouldn't have strength to pass this through Congress. In Brazil, decisions concerning human rights are being made through Judiciary than Legislative.

[Edu]

Good!

This is sort of how it started in Argentina, if I recall correctly. Although there wasn't a crappy civil union intermediate involved.

Yeah, it was something similar.
In Argentina, what that marriage really did in December 2009 was to start up a national debate that lasted about 6 months which ended with the satisfactory conclusion of congress legalizing gay marriage and gay adoption. Also, the supreme court was apparently going to rule favorably if by some chance the legislature didn't pass it.

Of course the difference with Brazil is that as Rod points out, evangelicals are pretty powerful there and Dilma can't really piss them off too much. On the other hand, in Argentina, the church is rapidly losing influence and power, it's been a while since people really payed attention to what they say and Cristina was strongly in favor of a gay marriage bill and said so in every opportunity she got.

For the past couple of months there has been a national debate here about the legalization of marihuana use, and even though the church is against it they have been basically MIA since the issue started to be talked about. I guess they realised they would do more harm than good by being outspoken about it
Of course this issue isn't really directly linked to the church, but their silence for the past few months has been notable.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

If Brazillian gays are getting married, what will become of the houseboy import industry in America?

Eastern Europe?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Hopefully the spread of this thing will finally kill this as an issue.

[RodPresident]

Another marriage, now a lesbian, was made in Brasilia.
Controversial and powerful congressman Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ) introduced a law creating Heterosexual Pride Day, like Councilman Carlos Apolinário (DEM-SP, but supported Dilma). He's evangelical but he's embroiled in many scandals. His slogan is "people deserve respect".

[Holmes]

Haha. Every day is heterosexual pride day. But most straight people are so used to that being the norm in their own little world that they freak out when that norm is threatened, such as during gay pride. It's quite cute, and unsurprising.

When this Eduardo Cunha character speaks, is it mostly always "look at me, I want to be relevant!"?

[RodPresident]

No, he's a most behind-of-scenes guy, but he's very powerful and able. He served in Collor government, but became a loyal Garotinho guy until 2007, when he became Vice President Temer's protegé. Sometime ago, he exchanged accusations with Garotinho. He's good to make threats.
But most midiatic conservative congressman is Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ), a former Army officer. He's Pinochet's fan and says that dictatorship only mistake is not to kill tortured persons. He is a facist.

[RodPresident]

Bolsonaro was cleared by Ethics Committee of Chamber, although reporter Deputy Sérgio Brito (PSC-BA,a evangelical) asked punishment for him after shouting at Senator Marinor Brito (PSOL-PA). This was possible, because many of PSDB and DEM membert voted to clear him, like evangelical guys. PT, Carlos Sampaio (PSDB-SP) and Ricardo Izar Jr. (PV-SP) voted against him. In a TV show, he said that he wouldn't like that one of his sons being in a relationship with a black woman, although this was a confusion, but this shows his bigoted nature. One of his sons after decision said "Cry, fags!".
http://www2.camara.gov.br/agencia/noticias/199366.html?timestamp=1309387362757 - roll call.