title: Same-sex marriage in Santa Catarina
text: # Same-sex marriage in Santa Catarina
  
  Part of the LGBT rights series :
  
  Legal status of same-sex unions :
  
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  See also
  
  Same-sex union legislation
  
  Same-sex union court cases
  
  Timeline of same-sex marriage
  
  Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa
  
  Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia
  
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  Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
  
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  Notes
  
  Performed in the Netherlands proper, including the Caribbean Netherlands. Registered in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  
  Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  
  Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  
  Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  
  Cohabitation. Registered foreign marriages confer limited rights. Marriage recognized in some cities.
  
  The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens.
  
  Legal guardianships (nationwide, except Hong Kong and Macau), residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents (Hong Kong).
  
  Unregistered cohabitation or Maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  
  Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, though not legally formalized.
  
  Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights
  
  Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status
  
  * Not yet in effect :
  
  LGBT portal :
  
  vte :
  
  Same-sex marriage in Santa Catarina has been legal since April 29, 2013. Santa Catarina was one of the twelve Brazilian states to have opened marriage to same-sex couples before its nationwide legalisation in May 2013. Civil unions (união estável) have also been available since 2011 in accordance with a ruling from the Supreme Federal Court.
  
  ## Legal history
  
  On April 29, 2013, Judge Vanderlei Romer from the state's Judicial Administrative Department (Corregedoria Geral de Justiça) ruled that all notaries statewide are obligated to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples, and convert civil unions into marriages if the couples so choose. This decision legalized same-sex marriage in Santa Catarina.
  
  In August 2013, a Florianópolis prosecutor, Henrique Limongi, received considerable media attention after publicly stating that he would refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in violation of state and federal law. Under Brazilian law, judges and notaries are prohibited from refusing to register and license same-sex marriages. Limongi falsely argued that recognizing same-sex marriages violated the Constitution of Brazil. From 2013 to 2018, he personally requested the annulment of 112 same-sex marriages. Lawyers representing some of the involved couples have labelled his arguments "baseless", as the Brazilian judiciary itself has held that same-sex marriage does not violate the Constitution; on the contrary, it requires its recognition. Official investigations alleging "public misconduct", "disrespect for legal hierarchy" and "placing personal beliefs above the law" were launched by the Public Ministry National Council (CNMP; Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público) and the Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil). In July 2020, the CNMP decided not to bring disciplinary charges against Limongi but recommend his removal from office. In August 2020, the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina removed Limongi from his post as a marriage officer and reassigned him to a new post, effective from 1 September. His replacement, Vânia Sangalli, said she would perform same-sex marriages. In September 2020, the Santa Catarina Court of Justice ruled that 46 same-sex marriages Limongi had filed official objections to in 2019 were legal.
  
  ## Marriage statistics
  
  The following table shows the number of same-sex marriages performed in Santa Catarina according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.
  
  | Year | Same-sex marriages | Same-sex marriages | Same-sex marriages | Total marriages | % same-sex |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Year | Female | Male | Total | Total marriages | % same-sex |
  | 2013 | 81 | 126 | 207 | 31,151 | 0.66% |
  | 2014 | 137 | 205 | 342 | 32,080 | 1.07% |
  | 2015 | 139 | 210 | 349 | 32,820 | 1.06% |
  | 2016 | 137 | 245 | 382 | 32,689 | 1.17% |
  | 2017 | 135 | 215 | 350 | 33,748 | 1.03% |
  | 2018 | 200 | 229 | 429 | 32,815 | 1.31% |
  | 2019 | 195 | 180 | 375 | 33,160 | 1.13% |
  | 2020 | 145 | 110 | 255 | 24,198 | 1.05% |
  
  Figures for 2020 are lower than previous years because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  