Brazilian Human Rights Commission OK’s Church Leaders to Ban Participation of Homosexuals

On October 16, 2013, Folha de São Paulo reported that a bill has passed through Brazil’s Human Rights Commission to give priests and pastors the right to bar homosexuals from attending church functions.  The sponsor of the bill, federal deputy Washington Reis (PMDB-RJ), affirmed that many churches preach against the open practice of homosexuality, and that they should have the right to free assembly without state interference.  The law, approved primarily by the commission’s Evangelical Christian wing, now goes to the Constitution and Justice Committee for a vote.  Read Article