Brazilian Bar Will Not License Candidates Accused of Violence Against LGBT

By Arkady Petrov

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, June 10th, the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) approved the proposal that deems morally unfit any persons committing violent acts against LGBT individuals, thus impeding their professional license to practice law.

The proposal comes from federal Councilor Hélio das Chagas Leito Neto. Carlos da Costa Pinto Neves Filho is the rapporteur.

According to the proposal’s text, the use of violence against the community in question “represents an action capable of demonstrating the absence of moral suitability for the professional registration of a law graduate in the OAB”.

“Requirements for enrolment in the Brazilian Bar Association: moral suitability. The practice of violence against LGBT people constitutes behaviour apt to demonstrate the absence of moral suitability for the registration of a law graduate in the OAB, regardless of any criminal process; the local Sections will analyze each concrete case”.

In May 2019, the Brazilian Bar Association determined that professionals with a history of violence against women would not be eligible to apply for admission to practice. Those accused of violence against the elderly, children, adolescents, and disabled individuals also fall within this group, which cannot be included in the ranks of licensed professionals.