Same-sex marriages surged before Bolsonaro took office, Brazil data reveal
A new study has shown that the election of Jair Bolsonaro, known for his homophobic views, as president of Brazil in 2018 caused a temporary surge in the number of same-sex marriages. The increase was particularly high in Brazilian municipalities where a large number of voters had previously voted for Bolsonaro.
In Brazil, same-sex marriages experienced a significant surge following the 2018 presidential election of Jair Bolsonaro, a candidate known for his anti-LGBTQ+ stance, according to a study published in the Journal of Population Economics. The research, conducted by academics from Tübingen, Valencia, and Oestrich-Winkel universities, examined data from 4,905 cities and municipalities across the country.
The study revealed that in municipalities where Bolsonaro received a higher share of the vote, the number of same-sex marriages increased by approximately 85% compared to the pre-election period. This peak occurred shortly before Bolsonaro's inauguration in January 2019, with the sharpest increase in December 2018. The researchers noted that the couples who married during this period had not previously planned to do so, suggesting the fear of losing their right to marry was a significant factor.
Additionally, the economic and legal security provided by marriage may have also contributed to the increase. The study, led by Mateus Maciel, suggests that women are more risk-averse than men, which may have heightened the perceived threat and led to the rise in same-sex marriages.
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