The Brazilian Supreme Court's recognition of same-sex unions in
early May marks the latest victory for gay rights in Latin
America. The Court's ruling grants equal legal rights to same-
sex civil unions as those enjoyed by married heterosexuals,
including retirement benefits, joint tax declarations,
inheritance rights, and child adoption. An Unlikely Victory As
the world's largest Roman Catholic country, Brazil was an
unlikely venue for such a promising gay rights victory. The
Roman Catholic Church has actively fought proposals for same-sex
unions in Brazil, arguing that the Brazilian Constitution
defines a "family entity" as "a stable union between a man and a
woman."2 The Catholic Church responded to the recent ruling with
outrage. As Archbishop Anuar Battisti put it, the Supreme
Court's decision marked a "frontal assault" on the sanctity of
the family.3 The Catholic Church is losing its power in Brazil,
which helped pave the way for the Supreme Court's recent
decision in favor of homosexuals. Nevertheless,