×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Home To Bold Columnists
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download App

Brazil Supreme Court rules homophobia a crime

President Jair Bolsonaro has accused the justices of legislating from the bench and suggested it was time to appoint an evangelical Christian to the Supreme Court. [Courtesy]

The Brazilian Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that homophobia should be criminalised under existing legislation until Congress creates a specific law for the subject, weighing in on a topic that has drawn the ire of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Eight of 11 justices voted to treat homophobia in the same way as racism under Brazilian law, making it a criminal act.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in