Brazilian same-sex marriage push

Brazilian parliamentarians launched a campaign on March 29 to legalise same-sex marriage in South America’s largest and most populous nation.

The campaign is being led by Brazil’s first openly gay lawmaker, Jean Wyllys, who entered politics after winning Brazilian Big Brother in 2005.

The group of 171 MPs will also push to support an anti-discrimination law outlawing bias on the grounds of sex, sexuality and gender identity that was passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives in 2006 but has yet to be passed by the Senate.

Spanish and Argentinian politicians attended the campaign launch and spoke about the process that led to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in their countries.

The campaign will be supported by a series of TV commercials featuring gay and lesbian couples telling their stories and Brazilian celebrities.

Brazil is already debating a law to create civil unions for same-sex couples and the issue is currently before the nation’s courts.

PHOTO CREDIT: Agência Brasil