Posted on 10/03/2004 10:56:56 PM PDT by Cracker72
BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian court on Friday barred the lesbian partner of the outgoing mayor of an Amazon town from trying to succeed her, citing a ban on political office passing between family members.
Eulina Rabelo was forced to quit the mayoral race in Viseu, in the state of Para, when judges ruled that her relationship with incumbent mayor Astrid Maria Cunha e Silva would violate a constitutional article that prevents executive posts in local government being transferred between members of the same family.
The unanimous ruling by the country's top electoral court effectively recognized the two women as being married, even though Brazil's constitution technically does not allow gay marriage.
But laws on gay couples are muddled. The federal social security system recognizes same-sex unions and one state, Rio Grande do Sul, has performed civil marriages for gays.
Equality before the law...ain't it a bitch?
Be careful what you ask for, girls. You just might get it.
In this respect, banana republic Brazil has more scruples than New Jersey.
In parts of Australia this woman would be elected as the Head of the Greens Party.
Are you sure you don't want to rephrase that?
Why? Sometimes a banana is just a banana.
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