Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Brazil appellate court says gay marriage is legal

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s top appeals court has ruled that two women can legally be married.

It’s the highest court in Brazil to uphold a gay marriage.

In June, a state court judge ruled that two men could legally change their civil union into a full marriage.

In May, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that gay civil unions could be recognized. But it stopped short of recognizing full marriages.

Since then, several couples have petitioned to have their civil unions recognized as full marriages. Some of those have been approved by lower courts, others have been blocked.

Tuesday’s ruling by the Supreme Appeals Court overturned two lower court’s ruling against the women.

In Latin America, gay marriage is legal in Argentina and Mexico City.

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