by Rex Wockner
International News
There are 68,000 same-sex couples in Germany, according to the latest annual microcensus.
Some 15,000 same-sex couples have entered an official registered partnership.
The new census number may be an undercount because respondents were allowed to leave that section of the form blank if they chose to, officials told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur news service.
Brazilian court: Gay couples can be recognized under current law,
President Lula comes out in favor of civil unions
Same-sex couples can be officially recognized as families under existing law, Brazil's Superior Court of Justice has ruled 3-2, according to a Sept. 17 report by http://www.GayNewsWatch.com.
The ruling seemingly clears the way for other courts to recognize gay couples without legislators' passing any new laws.
The decision came in a case brought by longtime gay couple Antonio Carlos Silva and Brent James Townsend. Townsend is Canadian, the couple married in Canada, and he is seeking permanent residence in Brazil.
The case now returns to Rio de Janeiro's highest court for a determination consistent with the Superior Court ruling.
Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Sept. 17 that he supports passing a national civil-union law for same-sex couples.
One such measure has been stalled in Congress for several years.
"There are men living with men, women living with women, and they often live well, even extraordinarily," Lula told TV Brasil. "They are building lives together, working together, and that's why I am in favor (of civil unions)."
"We must stop with hypocrisy," he added. "One thing that deeply bothers me is these politicians are not rejecting gay votes and the Brazilian government is not refusing the taxes they pay."
