A brief reflection about Gay Marriage1

Universal Declaration of Human Right – UN 1948

“Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act
towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth
in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour,
sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on
the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country
or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust,
non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. (…)

Article 6.Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a

person before the law.

Article 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal
protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and
against any incitement to such discrimination. (…)”

The purpose of this paper is a brief reflection about homosexual relationship

and their legal consequences. I would like to clarify an issue that is controversial;
However, it is necessary to elucidate that the position I advocate is not related to any
religious or moral stance.

Same sex union, or gay marriage, is a reality in

every city and every family, a reality which the government cannot excuse itself to
recognize.

It seems indisputable after reading the above articles of the “Universal

Declaration of Human Right”, that sexual orientation cannot be considered a
determining factor for the maintenance of unequal and discriminatory treatment.

Thus, the legal recognition of gay relationships go far beyond any religious
thought. What is at issue are the civil rights of ordinary citizens who have been
dispossessed of their citizenship. If is true that democratic states are governed on the
principles of equality, freedom and human dignity, makes no sense to deprive certain
citizens of their rights to form a family, just because they are not as society expects
them to be.

1
By Luciana de Paula Guedes
 Focusing on the legal issue, become necessary the recognition of gay
relationships as a family, to ensure the rights and duties arising from this legal institute,
especially those related to property relations. Because, like any another long-term
relationship, two people come together uniting efforts in an attempt to realize a project
of life together. With this purpose, they build relation of
dependence and mutual ownership.

Unfortunately is common homosexual couples who have been together for

years often find themselves without the basic rights and privileges that are currently
enjoyed by heterosexual couples who legally marry - from the sharing of health and
pension benefits to hospital visitation right, or inheritance right, among others.

Therefore, it´s necessary that the hypocritical moral discourse, based on

ignorance and faulty assumptions be broken, to recognize the same sex union.
Thus, finally honoring the principles of equality, freedom and human dignity already
outlined in the “Universal Declaration of Human Right” 62 years ago.

VOCABULARY
Among (prep): in association or connection with.

Assumption (noun): the act of taking for supposing.

Beyond (prep): superior to, surpassing.

Efforts (noun): something done by exertion or hard work.

Indisputable (adj): uncontestable.

Inherence (noun): hereditary succession to a property.

Maintenance (noun): care or upkeep.

Ownership (noun): legal righr of possession, proprietorship.

Therefore(prep): thence, hence.

Thus(prep): hence, thence.

To Arising (verb): to result or to proceed.

To Attempt (verb): to make a effort to.

To Deprive (verb): to remove, to deny.

To Dispossess (verb): to banish.

To elucidate (verb): to make lucid or clear.