Société
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Brazil's National Council of Justice ruled Tuesday that registry offices cannot refuse the registration of same-sex unions or the conversion from a civil union to a marriage.
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The council, which oversees Brazil's courts, made the decision based on a Supreme Court ruling in May 2011 that said it was unconstitutional to make legal distinctions between heterosexual and homosexual marriages.
Brazil approved same-sex civil unions, which are similar to marriages, in early 2011. The approval made gay marriage legal in theory, since Brazilian law holds that a civil union can be converted to a civil marriage.
However, employees at some registry offices refused to register the conversions or perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.
Prior to the ruling by the council, 12 Brazilian states and the Federal District had legalized gay marriage, making it mandatory for their registry offices to officially recognize such unions.
Although a civil union offers many of the same rights as a marriage, issues such as inheritance and adoption can be easier to handle in a marriage, as it gives the parties more legal protection.
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