Brazil's Supreme Court recognized the legal rights of same-sex partners in "stable" civil unions, Chief Justice Cezar Peluso announced.

The 10 justices unanimously ruled that partners in a same-sex union had the same legal rights as a man and woman in a marriage.

"Those who opt for a homosexual union cannot be treated less than equally as citizens," Justice Camen Lucia said.

"No one should be deprived of rights on the basis of sexual orientation," added Justice Ricardo Lewandowski.