jueves, julio 15, 2010

Argentina legalised same-sex marriage

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 15 July 2010 19.05
Argentina legalised same-sex marriage today, becoming the first country in Latin America to declare that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexuals.
Following a marathon debate that ended after 4am, 33 senators voted in favour, 27 against and three abstained. Since Argentina's lower house has already approved the bill and President Cristina Fernández is a strong supporter, it will become law as soon as it is published in the official bulletin, which should happen within days.
The law is expected to bring a wave of marriages in the gay-friendly capital, Buenos Aires, though only citizens and residents can wed in the country.
A campaign against the bill by the Roman Catholic church and evangelical groups had drawn 60,000 people to march on congress, with parents in churches and schools urged to fight the plans.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio led the campaign, saying "children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother".
Nine gay couples had married in Argentina after convincing judges that the constitutional mandate of equality supported their rights, although the validity of the ceremonies was challenged by other judges. Congressional passage now removes that doubt.
As the debate stretched on, large crowds kept rival vigils outside the congress building. When the vote came, there were cheers and hugs among supporters, with police keeping them apartfrom opponents who prayed and held rosaries.
"Marriage between a man and a woman has existed for centuries, and is essential for the perpetuation of the species," said Senator Juan Pérez Alsina, who is a usually loyal supporter of the president but who delivered a passionate speech against gay marriage.
But Senator Norma Morandini compared the discrimination gay people faced to the oppression under Argentina's dictators. "What defines us is our humanity, and what runs against humanity is intolerance," she said.
Gay rights advocates said Argentina's step adds momentum to similar efforts around the world. "Today's historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come, as 12 countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality," said Evan Wolfson, of the US Freedom to Marry lobby.
Gay activists in neighbouring Chile hope Argentina's milestone will improve chances for a gay marriage law now in committee in their own congress.
"Argentina's political class has provided a lesson to the rest of Latin America," said Rolando Jimenez in Santiago. "We hope our own countries and political parties will learn that the human rights of sexual minorities are undeniable."
Activists in Paraguay plan to propose a similar law to the senate in October, said Martin Viveros of the group Somosgay. And in Uruguay, gay people unsatisfied with the partial rights that come through civil unions are preparing legislation that would replace references to "man and woman" with "spouse" throughout the civil code.

1 comentario:

Anónimo dijo...
Este blog ha sido eliminado por un administrador de blog.