Brazilian activists meet defense minister
The Brazilian LGBT Association (ABGLT) met with Defense Minister Nelson Jobim on June 14 to lobby him on gay and HIV issues.
ABGLT President Toni Reis said Jobim committed to drafting amendments to remove the words "pederasty" and "homosexual" from the Military Penal Code, and to working to get the amendments through the National Congress.
He also agreed to implement in the Armed Forces the recent federal Supreme Court ruling requiring that same-sex couples be permitted to register their unions and receive the rights of marriage.
Jobim also plans to set up a working group to review the military's policy of testing recruits for HIV.
