Brazil is a huge place with many faces to its LGBT scene scattered over thousands of miles. My trip this time included Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Iguaca Falls, Florianopolis and the city of Curitiba–more than enough for three weeks. Gay marriage was approved in June 2013.
Brazil is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occuping nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. In 1830, Dom Pedro I signed into law the Imperial Penal Code eliminating all references to sodomy. As of 2003, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was prohibited in 73 municipal statutes, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and three state constitutions. Same-sex civil unions have been established at the state level in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. A court decision has been pending since 2005 on legalizing marriage nationwide.
Despite some positive laws, research done in 2005 found that 65% of the homosexuals interviewed in that year’s São Paulo Gay Pride Parade said that they were victims of hate speech and/or suffered physical aggression. In mid-2006, Brazil launched Brazil Against Homophobia, a campaign against homophobia within the country including TV advertisement and billboards. The first adoption in Brazil by a same-sex couple was by a lesbian couple from Rio Grande do Sul. In May 2011 Brazil’s Federal Surpeme Court ruled unanimously (10 to 0) that Civil Unions are legally acceptable relationships between adult citizens of the same gender. Read more about gay rights.
Name: Brazil
Population: 190320000
Capital: Brasilia - Pop. 2557000
Area: 8514877 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 55
French parliament bans LGBT+ conversion therapy, 2021/Dec/14
In pictures: Expelled for being gay, 2018/Aug/06
São Paulo’s gay pride parade – in pictures, 2018/Jun/03
Thousands revel in Brazil’s gay pride parade, 2018/Jun/03
In Brazil, soccer has been mainly a straight guy’s sport. A new gay league is changing that., 2017/Dec/30
Thousands protest ruling to overturn ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for gays and lesbians in Brazil, 2017/Sep/22
European Union gives €500,000+ to help LGBTI people in Brazil start their own businesses, 2015/Apr/13
Brazil: Schoolboys wear skirts in protest after trans girl fined for wearing female uniform, 2014/Sep/21
Queer Girl City Guide: São Paulo, Brazil, 2013/Jul/16
Brazil judicial panel clears way for gay marriage, 2013/May/14
Brazil Allows In Vitro For Gay Couples, 2013/May/09
Two more Brazil states pass gay marriage, 2013/May/01
Brazil priest sacked over pro gay message, 2013/Apr/30
Regional Dialogues on the new UN resolution on SO&GI and human rights: The Brasilia Meeting, 2013/Mar/15
One gay Brazilian murdered every 26 hours in 2012, 2013/Mar/10
Mass gay ‘wedding’ held in Rio, Brazil, 2012/Dec/10
Rio gay pride calls for Brazil homophobia ban, 2012/Nov/19
One Million Revelers Celebrate Brazil Gay Pride, 2012/Nov/19
Rio Gay Pride aims to tackle Brazilian ‘homophobia’, 2012/Nov/18
Brazil Hosts First Transgender Beauty Pageant, 2012/Nov/01
280 gay hate murders in Brazil and Peru in 2011, 2012/Jun/01
Brazil’s new bill criminalizes homophobia, 2012/May/29
Supergay Andre Fischer: Queer Brazil’s Media King, 2012/Apr/19
Brazil: Anti-Homophobia Bill Suffers a “Death Blow”, 2011/Dec/09
AIDS Among Young MSM Makes Progress, 2011/Nov/22
Gay Brazil News & Reports 2011, 2011/Jan/10
Gay Brazil News & Reports 2008-10, 2009/Jan/01
Gay Brazil News & Reports 2004-07, 2009/Jan/01
Gay Brazil News & Reports 2000-03, 2009/Jan/01
