- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced last week that it has authorized issuing diplomatic passports to gay and lesbian couples, according to the Bolivian newspaper Los Tiempos.
Not only does the move officially recognize the partners of gay and lesbian diplomats as family, it officially announces that gays and lesbians represent the government of Brazil around the world.
Partners of the diplomats have received health benefits since 2006.
The newspaper reports that gay-rights organizations around the country celebrated the policy change.
The day before, however, Vice President Jose Alencar declined to sign a decree establishing May 17 as a day to fight homophobia.
The vice president is a member of the Brazilian Republican Party, which has evangelical church ties and is opposed to LGBT rights.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a member of the Workers Party, was out of the country and was expected to sign the decree when he returned.
