Publication in the Official Gazette of the State of Pará. Reproduction / Ioepa The governor of Pará, Hana Ghassan (MDB), sanctioned a new law that guarantees religious temples and confessional educational institutions the right to limit the "use of bathrooms based on biological sex (male and female), disregarding gender identity". The measure was published in the Official State Gazette this Tuesday (14) and is already in force throughout the territory of Pará. The project appeared in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Pará (Alepa) and establishes that "churches and temples of any religious background are guaranteed the freedom to define the rules for access to their bathrooms based strictly on biological distinction". ? Follow the g1 Pará channel on WhatsApp The new rule is not just restricted to religious temples. The sanctioned text extends authorization to: Confessional schools (religiously oriented schools); Institutions maintained by religious entities; Events and activities organized by these organizations, even if they take place outside their physical premises. The approval of the law comes amid debates across the country about accessibility guidelines and rights of transgender people in public and private spaces. In Pará, the new legislation legally shields spaces of a religious nature that choose to maintain the traditional division of bathrooms according to the sex of birth of the patrons.
New law in PA authorizes temples and confessional schools to restrict the use of bathrooms by biological sex
Publication in the Official Gazette of the State of Pará. Reproduction / Ioepa The governor of Pará, Hana Ghassan (MDB), sanctioned a new law that guarantees religious temples and confessional educational institutions...
MPF recommended veto Before the law was sanctioned, the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) had formally recommended to the government of Pará a full veto of the Bill. According to federal prosecutors, the proposal presents "serious signs of formal and material unconstitutionality", in addition to "violating international commitments on human rights to which Brazil is a signatory". The recommendation was signed jointly by the deputy attorney general of the Republic, Paulo Thadeu Gomes da Silva (federal attorney for Citizen's Rights), and by the attorney of the Republic Sadi Flores Machado (regional attorney for Citizen's Rights in Pará). The document was issued as part of a procedure that follows public policies aimed at the LGBTQIAPN+ population in the state. Among the main points of contention presented by the MPF are: Invasion of competence: The body points out that the bill interferes with the Union's exclusive competence to legislate on Civil Law, since it establishes rules on personal rights and the use of bathrooms, a subject that requires uniform national regulation. Violation of fundamental rights: The MPF highlights that the proposal violates constitutional precepts such as human dignity, equality and the prohibition of discrimination. Previous precedents from the Federal Supreme Court (STF) were cited, such as ADI 4,275, which recognizes gender identity as a fundamental right, and decisions that equate transphobia with the crime of racism. Secularity of the State: Prosecutors warned that the law is based on purely confessional (religious) justifications, without presenting public order reasons to restrict rights. Risks to the safety of transgender people: Based on positions from the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (Antra) and Advisory Opinion No. 24/2017 of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the body reinforced the discriminatory impacts and risks to the safety of transgender people prevented from accessing bathrooms consistent with their identity. The MPF had also recommended that the Government Palace adopt administrative measures to guarantee respect for gender identity in the state public administration. The state Executive had given 10 days to inform the body whether it would comply with the recommendations and up to 45 days to detail the measures that will be adopted. To g1, the MPF informed, through its consultancy, that it is analyzing the measure announced by the government. VIDEOS: see all the news from Pará Read more news from the state on g1 Pará
