“The freedom to pursue one’s own sexuality is part of an individual’s freedom of expression,” said Justice Carlos Ayres Britto, the writer of the opinion.

The vote was 10-0. One justice abstained due to previous statements in favor of same sex civil unions.  A few here in the States will argue this ruling is nothing but separate and equal. Advocates in Brazil are having none of that.

“There is something to celebrate this result,”  said Cleber Vicente, project coordinator for the Rainbow Group in Rio de Janeiro (as reported by the country’s state run the state-run Agencia Brasil). “It is a struggle that stretches for over 15 years.”

This decision makes Brazil and Argentina as the two South American countries to recognize gay relationships. [UPDATE: As Jay reminded in the comments, Uruguay passed civil union legislation in December of 2007]

The separate but equal debate is worth having, but this decision is all success. Sure the word marriage is missing, but please consider this: a country, with an extremely large Roman Catholic population, just gave legal recognition/rights to gay families. If this isn’t a win, then the word is meaningless.

The latest: Back in May, before the tournament began, team coach and famed former player Diego Maradona(right) made an unusual promise: If Argentina returns from South Africa as the world champions, he will run naked around the Obelisk located in the heart of Buenos Aires.

Not that running naked is gay. But then came other comments by Carlos Bilardo, another former player and the team’s current General Manager.

Appearing on a television news magazine show aired  on June 4th, Dr. Bilardo, who is also a former physical therapist, was a bit bawdy and funny as heck.  Invited to talk on the topic of sex and soccer, Dr. Bilardo addressed whether players should have sex the day before a game, whether they masturbated in the locker rooms and whether there was an appropriate sexual position between an older man and a younger woman.

The clincher came just as Dr. Bilardo was getting ready to end the interview and walk out of the studio.

“Any promises Carlos, or not?” host Matias Marín asked him, “Diego [Maradona] said if he emerges the champion, [he'l run] naked to the Obelisk”.

Here is Dr. Bilardo’s response:

That, of course, was international news. From Peru’s 100 Goles, “If Argentina is the champion, I’ll let them do my ass“.

It’s not the first time that Dr. Bilardo makes a similar World Cup promise. Four years ago,  he offered to masturbate the player who scored the championship goal at the previous World Cup tournament (Italy won so Dr. Bilardo ultimately did not have to make good on his offer).

I guess he was upping the ante this year and at least one of the players indicated he would be more than game.Martin Palermo, who at 36 is playing in his first World Cup tournament, joked that if he scores the championship goal he’ll “make Bilardo’s dream come true” only if Bilardo accepts putting on a wig.

Who knows where all this is going with Argentina sitting pretty on top of the World Cup Group B standings with two wins and no losses. One thing seems true, the spirit of homosex doesn’t seem to want to leave the team alone.  It’s latest manifestation came during the press conference on Thursday after Argentina’s 4-1 defeat of South Korea in the guise of a BBC reporter and some apparently faulty translation.

Look at those eyes widen in horror at the thought of homosex! Ah, Diego. Things haven’t changed much since he played into rumors that Brazilian soccer idol Pelé  began his sexual life with other boys. That also made worldwide news at the time.

But what else is new?  Soccer doesn’t seem to indicate it will ever grow up when it comes to issues related to homosexuality.

Original Post: http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2010/06/argentina-at-fifa-world-cup-homosex-on.html

Argentina, oficially gayfriendly

Lawmakers are currently working towards making Argentina the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage. They would become the second country after Canada in the Americas to end marriage discrimination.

A growing number of supporters in Argentine Congress began the debate last Thursday on whether or not to change the law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

If course, and in the U.S., the major opposition comes from Catholic and evangelical Christian groups, who are accusing the government of attempting to destroy marriage and the family as an institution.

Of the 40 million people living in the country, most are Catholic and the church has had a great influence over politics. Until 1994, it was a prerequisite that the president and vice president had to be married and members of the Catholic Church.

In 2002, the nations capital, Buenos Aires, legalized civil unions for LGBT couples, and four other cities followed the lead.

Uruguay is currently the only Latin American country to recognize gay unions.

Source text:

http://www.gayagenda.com/2009/11/dont-cry-for-me-argentina/