Brazil’s supreme court votes to make homophobia a crime

RIO DE JANEIRO — A majority in Brazil’s supreme court has voted to make homophobia and transphobia crimes like racism, a decision coming amid fears the country’s far-right president will roll back LGBT social gains.

Six of the Supreme Federal Tribunal’s 11 judges have voted in favour of the measure. The five other judges will vote in a court session June 5, but the result will not be modified. The measure will take effect after all the justices have voted.

Racism was made a crime in Brazil in 1989 with sentences of up to five years. The court’s judges ruled homophobia should be framed within the racism law until the country’s congress approves legislation specifically dealing with LGBT discrimination.

Brazil’s Senate is processing a bill to criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender.

The Associated Press