Brazil voted to legalize civil unions Thursday, making it the largest of about 25 nations to pass civil union legislation, according to the Christian Science Monitor.

Brazil’s Supreme Court voted 10-0 in favor of civil unions, which will allow lesbian and gay couples to share in each other's inheritances, pensions and health plans.

“Gay rights activists celebrated the move as an important milestone that could resonate regionally, since Brazil itself was influenced by the debate following Argentina’s 2010 legalization of gay marriage," said Marinalva Santana, a spokeswoman for the Brazilian League of Lesbians.

“The society itself in Brazil despite being very religious ... has processed this debate in a very positive way, and the media has had a good role,” Santana added. 

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