With Two Men and a Woman, 'Throuple' Moves from Brazil after Court Decision

07/20/2018 - 12h09

The "Filiation" field in the birth certificate of Maria Luiza, 6, states the following: "Luiz Carlos Flaquer Rocha, born in São Paulo, Rafael Chagas Pereira Lopes, born in São Paulo, and Kelly Carla da Silva, born in São Paulo". Right below it, in the "Grandparents" field, there are six names.

Maria Luiza has one mother and two fathers, all registered. Together for 11 years, they had all the required documents to register their "união estável" (similar to a common-law marriage) when the CNJ (National Justice Council) forbade the drafting of the document, last month.

	Bruno Santos/ Folhapress
	Luiz Carlos Flaquer Rocha (42), Rafael Chagas Pereira Lopes (30), Kelly Carla da Silva (31) and the daughter Maria Luiza Flaquer Chagas Silva (6)

Now they have moved to Uruguay, where they hope to find a society more open to the lifestyle they have adopted.

They had already been planning to move, but their decision was encouraged after CNJ's resolution. "It was the push we needed," said Luiz. The country's legislation, as well as Brazil's, forbids a married person from marrying someone else, but it does not mention "união estável".

Other polyamorous families (of three or more partners) seek alternatives after CNJ's resolution.

The resolution does not change the routine in Maria Luiza's house, says Rafael. "I don't know if it would change much in our life, but it's a matter of showing society that we're not fooling around, we are a serious family. People said this wouldn't last, and we've been together for 11 years."

Audhrey Drummond, who has been living with Eustáquio Generoso and Rita Carvalho in Belo Horizonte for 11 years, intends to join forces with other polyamorous families and file a proceeding in court against the resolution. "If we are not a family, what are we?" she asked.

The resolution which prohibits the drafting of a polyamorous "união estável" was issued after a request filed by Adfas (Family Law and Succession Association). It claims such drafting is the "institutionalization of polygamy".

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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