Fifty same sex couples join in civil union at court of justice

Описание: (2 Jul 2012) Fifty Brazilian same-sex couples formalised their civil unions on Sunday at the Court of Justice in Rio de Janeiro.
Friends and family joined the couples to celebrate their civil unions, which entitles them to have the same legal rights as any married couple.
"I have friends whom, for example, one of the partners died and the family simply changed the lock of their house, that is unacceptable. So we have rights. I would like to give all my rights to him and vice versa," said Josiel Alvez de Santos, after marrying his partner of 10 years.
Just over a year ago, Brazil's High Court stated that same-sex civil unions should be recognised.
According to a research last year by the Brazilian Bureau of Statistics, 60,000 couples declared living together with their same-sex partners.
Sunday's ceremony was the first to have taken place in a court.
Another ceremony is planned to take place at the end of the year.
Unlike Argentina and the capital of Mexico, Mexico City, Brazil still does not recognise same sex marriages, which are different from civil unions.


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