Brazil’s Supreme Court Rules That Homophobia Is Now Punishable By Prison

Brazil’s Supreme Court Rules That Hate Speech Is Now Punishable By Prison

In a landmark decision, Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 22) ruled that homophobic slurs will now be punishable by prison.

The decision has been received well by the LGBTQ+ community which has been battling rampant violence against it in the country.

In a nearly unanimous 9-1 ruling, homophobic slurs have been put on the same legal level as racist hate speech.

 

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Justice Edson Fachin, who delivered the verdict, said the ruling was a “constitutional imperative” to give LGBTQ+ citizens equal protection under the law.

The Brazilians were elated after the announcement and took to social media to rejoice in the ruling.

“We need to celebrate, yes! It is a victory against LGBTPHOBIA,” said one of the netizens while another added: “I lived to see such a decision. The movement continues.”

Meanwhile, a third said: “Important achievement, but a mark of how backward Brazil is The Supreme Court had to equate LGBTphobia with racial slurs/racism because Congress refuses to legislate on this topic. Brazilian law simply does not directly punish LBGTphobics!!”