Goian Judge Who Annulled Homoaffective Stable Union Went to Brasília and Spoke of God

From Agencies Folhapress and Estado,
from Brasília and São Paulo
Judge Jeronymo Villas Boas, from Goiás, who canceled the stable union registration of a [[homosexual]] couple, said yesterday that God "compelled" him to decide in this way. The sentence, already overturned by the [[Corregedoria do Tribunal de Justiça de Goiás]] (Corregidor of the Goiás Court of Justice), contradicted the understanding of the Supreme Federal Court, which last month recognized homoaffective unions as family entities.

Received yesterday by evangelical leaders in the Federal Chamber, in an act of support for his sentence, the judge told the deputies that his family was suffering attacks because of the decision. "I gave up the stability of knowing that my children could go to school in peace. But God bothered me, He compelled me to decide. I know that this nation will understand that I am not discriminating against anyone," said Villas Boas.
"As an individual, I have the right to express my faith and I am free to exercise my ministry. This does not interfere with my judgments. But I am a pastor of the Assembly of God Madureira. And I do not deny my faith," stated the judge. "Your holy disobedience inspires us," said deputy Anthony Garotinho (PR-RJ), from the evangelical bloc.

Despite saying that his decision is not discriminatory and "is limited to the legality check of the act" of the Goiânia couple, who allegedly did not meet the basic requirements for registering the union, the judge made indirect criticisms of the [[STF]] decision. "When an STF minister takes office, they swear to defend the [[Constitution]]. A minister does not swear to change the Constitution, they tear it up, they get rid of it. A minister does not swear to interpret the Constitution according to their philosophical, personal, or individual convictions," he said, to applause.
Even with the possibility of facing disciplinary proceedings, he affirmed that he was sure of the decision he made, based, according to him, on the Constitution and his power as a public registry judge. He also stated that if he is not "prevented by a higher decision," he will conduct the same review with other registrations of homoaffective unions.

Possible Punishment
The judge, who heads the [[1ª Vara da Fazenda Pública Municipal e de Registros de Goiânia]] (1st Municipal Public Treasury and Registry Court of Goiânia), will be judged by a Special Court. As announced by desembargadora Beatriz Figueiredo Franco, also the Corregidor of the Goiás Court of Justice (TJ-GO). It was she who, on Tuesday (21st), annulled the judge's order. And she determined that all registry offices in Goiânia should produce the homoaffective union document. "The reading (of the judge's order) demonstrates a defect in competence that contaminates the decision," said Beatriz in a brief press conference at TJ-GO. She explained that the STF's decision could not be contested, but rather required the judge's submission to the Supreme Court's act. When this does not happen, "disciplinary investigation" is warranted. "I submitted the matter to the Special Court to ascertain the procedure," she said. The Special Court decided that "the Corregedoria has autonomy" to take the necessary measures.
"I was not notified, I cannot be judged in absentia," stated Villas Boas. "The decision is happening very quickly," he criticized. Originally from Uberaba (MG), a former PT activist, the judge guarantees he left politics when he took office as a magistrate 19 years ago. A member of the Assembly of God in Goiânia, he also serves as vice-president of the Brazilian Magistrates' Association (AMB).

For the OAB, justification aggravates the situation

The interim president of the [[Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil]] (OAB) (Brazilian Bar Association), Alberto de Paula Machado, said yesterday that there is no punishment for judges who contradict the STF's interpretation, as long as they base their decisions on the law. "There is no penalty against a judge who makes a decision using their free conviction. The only consequence is that a judicial decision contrary to the Supreme Court's will end up being revoked or reformed in a higher instance," says Machado.
The [[Conselho Nacional de Justiça]] (National Council of Justice) informed that, as of yesterday, it had not received any complaint against Judge Villas Boas' decision. The body stated that, "if there is a complaint and the indications of irregularities are consistent, it may open an inquiry or an administrative disciplinary proceeding" to investigate the judge's conduct. For Machado, of the OAB, Villas Boas' situation "worsened" after he declared that it was God who compelled him to decide against gay unions.
"Justice in Brazil is conceived within a model where judges motivate their decisions based on the Constitution and laws. Allowing them to issue decisions based on religious conviction distances us from the rule of law itself."

SP Councilors Discuss “Hetero Day”

Four days before the [[Gay Parade]], the second discussion vote on the bill to create Heterosexual Pride Day paralyzed the vote on 27 projects in the São Paulo Municipal Chamber yesterday. The councilors saw an agreement for the approval of a package of proposals from parliamentarians and a bill from the Executive with tax changes founder after Carlos Apolinário (DEM) inverted the day's agenda. As leader of the Assembly of God, the councilor wanted urgency to create a date in honor of heterosexuals – after almost four hours of discussion, the text was blocked by the [[PT]] and [[PPS]] blocs.
"It is to accentuate the family atmosphere of the Christmas festivities," justified Apolinário, who was trying to make the third Sunday of December Hetero Pride Day. The evangelical councilor also argued that Avenida Paulista can no longer be the venue for events with 3 million people, like the Gay Parade. "They removed the March for Jesus and left the gays. This is absurd. The gays need to leave too!" he said. Both the PT and the PPS bloc considered the proposal a provocation from the evangelical bloc, as yesterday afternoon Minister Iriny Lopes, from the Secretariat for Women's Policies, launched a national campaign for the respect of lesbian rights at the São Paulo Chamber. ([[AE]])

Goianos Unite for the 2nd Time in a Collective Ceremony

Agência Estado, from Rio
de Janeiro, WITH THE EDITORIAL STAFF
Rio de Janeiro celebrated the stable union of 43 homosexual couples yesterday. Among them were journalist Léo Mendes, 47, and student Odílio Torres, 21, from Goiás, whose union registration had been canceled last Friday (10th) by Judge Jeronymo Pedro Villas Boas, from the 1st Public Treasury Court of Goiânia. The magistrate's decision was annulled on Tuesday (21st), and the registration revalidated – but the two decided to hold the union again.
"We were already in Rio when the judge's decision was overturned and we had spent money on tickets and accommodation, so we decided to stay. With a second registration, we have greater security for the union and we also give a political response against this absurdity," said Léo.
The two stated that they expect Villas Boas to be punished for contradicting a decision by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which in May had recognized homoaffective stable unions.
The collective union ceremony was presided over by desembargador Siro Darlan, who defended the registration of unions between same-sex individuals. "The role of the State and the Law is to welcome, not reject. The time when people were bothered by others' sexual preferences is long gone," said Darlan.
Wearing white dresses, marketing coordinator Elizabeth Cunha, 29, and sales supervisor Flávia Nogueira, 27, celebrated for the second time the union that began six years ago. The two had participated in a ceremony in an umbanda temple in 2009, but only had their registration officially formalized yesterday. "This is a very important step to guarantee our rights. Our families accept this well, but legal recognition by the government can facilitate many issues, such as adoption," said Elizabeth. The godparents of the ceremony were state Secretary of Environment, Carlos Minc (former Minister of the Environment), and state Secretary of Social Assistance and Human Rights, Maria Célia Vasconcelos.
As the couples arrived, around 4 PM, many curious onlookers gathered in front of the Central do Brasil building, where the ceremony was to take place. Telemarketing operator Luana Helena, 25, who is evangelical, appeared surprised by the ceremony.
"But is it really legalized?" she asked her friends. "Actually, I don't agree with it. I think it's absurd, because in the future they will authorize adoption by these couples, which could change the reality of children. It's unacceptable." Professor Luiz Antônio da Silva, 40, who is also evangelical, agreed with the celebration. "Everyone can do what they want, so there can't be this prejudice. I'm evangelical, but my pastor has never said anything against it," he stated.
Léo further emphasized that the greatest concern of homosexuals is with the interference of religion in public functions. "There should be no such influence of faith on decisions, especially when they transform people's lives. The State must be secular, and that is our struggle. A judge's function must serve everyone equally. Justice and rights are for everyone, regardless of each citizen's choices," he stated.
Odílio Torres summarized yesterday's situation in one word: "Dignity. We are making history in the world. And may this serve as a lesson for all who are against stable unions between same-sex couples," he said. He also stated that he would celebrate his honeymoon with Léo in São Paulo, at the gay parade, which takes place next Sunday.