Stylist and activist Carlos Tufvesson, who heads Rio de Janeiro's Sexual Diversity Coordination, published an article in this Sunday's edition (16) of the newspaper "O Globo" about gay marriage. In an accurate text, Tufvesson talks about the false morality of Brazilian society, which approves of seeing a straight man marrying several women at the same time, rather than a kiss between two men on TV. The activist also talks about how religion has dangerously interfered in this issue. Below you can see the article in full.
Civil marriage is a civil right!
Recently, in "Avenida Brasil" – a brilliant soap opera by João Emanuel Carneiro – it was possible to follow a plot that brought together two men and a woman and another that dealt with marriage between a man and three women. In this second case, complete with dresses on the brides and kisses lined up side by side. This fact did not register the slightest uproar in society as a result of the manifestation of affection between two people of the same sex. Paradoxically, by some criterion of selective moralism, the so-called "gay kiss" still remains a taboo.
I have been married for 17 years. A public relationship blessed by our entire family. It is important to emphasize that civil marriage has nothing to do with any religious ceremony. The definition of marriage according to the Civil Code, art. 1511: "Marriage establishes full communion of life, based on the equality of rights and duties of the spouses."
Why, after all, do people want to get married? Because in our country, citizens who come together to share a common life only have broad protection, in terms of rights and duties, if a civil marriage, established in the Civil Code, takes place.
Minister Luiz Felipe Salomão, from the STJ, in a decision on civil marriage declared in his vote: "In effect, if it is true that civil marriage is the way in which the State best protects the family, and family "arrangements" being multiple recognized by the Magna Carta, this path should not be denied to any family that opts for it, regardless of the sexual orientation of the participants, since families made up of same-sex couples have the same nuclei, the dignity of the people of their members and the affection".
On the 06th, Ancelmo Góis' column reported that the conversion of a stable union into a marriage between two people of the same sex in the Rio de Janeiro city of Sapucaia must suffer reprisal from a religious group that promises a march against the union and is already running a low signed to try to overturn the decision.
This level of intolerance and interference in the lives of others that has occurred in Brazil is very dangerous. People have come together to ensure that the rules of their religion are imposed on society, even to those who do not share their faith.
I recognize that I don't see the Jewish community organizing itself to impose its rules and make possible a bill that bans the consumption of pork in the country or so that we have to respect the Sabbath. I don't see the Muslim community organizing to create a law where everyone has to kneel in Mecca at noon. Why then do some people "in the name" of certain religions try to impose their God and his rules on an entire society?
Given this, a reflection: can anyone imagine a citizen being stoned for working on Saturday? Or a priest refusing the Eucharist to the blind, lame, mutilated or people with defects? Or some man getting arrested for trimming his beard? All these quotes appear in the Bible.
However, it is important to remember that the term homosexuality was only coined in the 19th century, well after its writing. The Democratic Rule of Law must be respected and, for this, we have laws. The independence of the three powers must be on par with religions, which is an object of personal nature, of faith. When these principles are not respected, the country's democracy is put at risk.
I don't have to be black to fight against racism. I don't have to be Jewish to fight anti-Semitism. And you don't have to be homosexual to fight homophobia."
Carlos Tufvesson
Civil and human rights activist
