Brazil's Supreme Court criminalises homophobia

Brazil's Supreme Court voted on Thursday to criminalize homophobia, an important step for sexual mirities in one of most dangerous countries for LGBT people in world.

Supreme Federal Court (STF), which voted eight to three in favour of measure, classified homophobia as a crime similar to racism, until Congress -- which is held by a conservative majority and is strongly influenced by evangelical churches -- passes a law specifically dressing such discrimination. Brazil w joins a growing number of countries in typically conservative and Catholic-influenced Latin American region that have passed measures in favour of LGBT rights.

"All prejudice is violence. All discrimination is a cause of suffering," said judge Carmen Luzia while voting in favour of measure.

"But I learned that some prejudices cause more suffering than ors."

According to NGO Grupo Gay de Bahia, which has collected national statistics for past four deces, re were 387 murders and 58 suicides over "homotransphobia" in 2017, a 30 percent increase from 2016.This works out to one LGBT death by suicide or murder every 19 hours in Brazil. country's highest court considered it neglect of legislative power t to have outlawed such discrimination until w. But three judges that voted against measure insisted that criminalizing homophobia was Congress's job,t court's.

"Only Congress can approve ( definition of) crimes and penalties; only Congress can pass laws on criminal conduct," said judge Ricardo Lewandowski.

 Acts of racism, and w acts of "homotransphobia," in Brazil face one to three years in prison or a fine. STF's decision has caused tension within Congress, with some legislators feeling stripped of ir powers. With a large group defending ir interest in Congress, Pentecostal churches -- whose following has grown exponentially in Brazil, country with most Catholics in world -- are expected to try to slow down initiatives such as that passed by STF.

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Criminalizing homophobia could restrict church leers, many of whom fear being penalized for rejecting same-sex unions by invoking religious texts. But in STF's verdict, court explicitly stated that criminalizing "homotransphobia" will t restrict religious freedom, so long as churches do t promote "hate speech" that incites discrimination, hostility or violence against people due to ir sexual orientation or identity. Thursday's decision is latest in a a wave of pro-LGBT rights decisions in Latin America. Brazil h alrey legalized same-sex marri, along with Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay. y were joined most recently by Ecuor, whose highest court on Wednesday approved same-sex marri in a landmark ruling for country. 

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