Brazil Accepts 3-Person Civil Union

A new frontier in civil unions: A notary public in Brazil has sanctioned a three-person union among a man and two women, reports the BBC. The three don't appear to be publicity seekers out to take a stand—in fact, this happened months ago and just came to light this week. The trio has lived together in Rio for three years, sharing the humdrum stuff of life like a joint checking account to pay the bills. They sought the union for legal protection in case one of the three dies.

• Official who approved the union: "We are only recognizing what has always existed. We are not inventing anything," says Claudia do Nascimento Domingues. "For better or worse, it doesn't matter, but what we considered a family before isn't necessarily what we would consider a family today."
• Lawyer who vows to fight the decision: It's "absurd and totally illegal," and "something completely unacceptable which goes against Brazilian values and morals."

(More Brazil stories.)