Argentina Legalizes Marriage For Gays
By Michael Warren
July 16, 2010
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina legalized same-sex marriage Thursday, becoming the first country in Latin America to grant gays and lesbians all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage gives heterosexual couples.
The vote came down to 33 in favor, 27 against and 3 abstentions in Argentina’s Senate shortly after 4 a.m. Since the lower house already approved it, and President Cristina Fernandez is a strong supporter, it now becomes the law of the land, and is sure to bring a wave of marriages by gays and lesbians who have increasingly found Buenos Aires to be more accepting than many other places in the region.
The approval came despite a concerted campaign by the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups, which drew 60,000 people to march on Congress and urged parents in churches and schools to work against passage.
Nine gay couples have already married in Argentina after persuading judges that Argentina’s constitutional mandate of equality supports their marriage rights, but some of these marriages were later declared invalid.
As the debate stretched on for nearly 16 hours, supporters and opponents held rival vigils through the frigid night outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires.
“Marriage between a man and a woman has existed for centuries, and is essential for the perpetuation of the species,” insisted Senator Juan Perez Alsina, who is usually a loyal supporter of the president but gave a passionate speech against gay marriage.
But Senator Norma Morandini, another member of the president’s party, compared the discrimination closeted gays face to the oppression imposed by Argentina’s dictators decades ago. “What defines us is our humanity, and what runs against humanity is intolerance.”
Same-sex civil unions have been legalized in Uruguay, Buenos Aires and some states in Mexico and Brazil. Mexico City has legalized gay marriage. Colombia’s Constitutional Court granted same-sex couples inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance plans.
But Argentina now becomes the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, granting gays and lesbians all the same rights and responsibilities that heterosexuals have. These include many more rights than civil unions, including adopting children and inheriting wealth.
By Michael Warren
July 16, 2010
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina legalized same-sex marriage Thursday, becoming the first country in Latin America to grant gays and lesbians all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage gives heterosexual couples.
The vote came down to 33 in favor, 27 against and 3 abstentions in Argentina’s Senate shortly after 4 a.m. Since the lower house already approved it, and President Cristina Fernandez is a strong supporter, it now becomes the law of the land, and is sure to bring a wave of marriages by gays and lesbians who have increasingly found Buenos Aires to be more accepting than many other places in the region.
The approval came despite a concerted campaign by the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups, which drew 60,000 people to march on Congress and urged parents in churches and schools to work against passage.
Nine gay couples have already married in Argentina after persuading judges that Argentina’s constitutional mandate of equality supports their marriage rights, but some of these marriages were later declared invalid.
As the debate stretched on for nearly 16 hours, supporters and opponents held rival vigils through the frigid night outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires.
“Marriage between a man and a woman has existed for centuries, and is essential for the perpetuation of the species,” insisted Senator Juan Perez Alsina, who is usually a loyal supporter of the president but gave a passionate speech against gay marriage.
But Senator Norma Morandini, another member of the president’s party, compared the discrimination closeted gays face to the oppression imposed by Argentina’s dictators decades ago. “What defines us is our humanity, and what runs against humanity is intolerance.”
Same-sex civil unions have been legalized in Uruguay, Buenos Aires and some states in Mexico and Brazil. Mexico City has legalized gay marriage. Colombia’s Constitutional Court granted same-sex couples inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance plans.
But Argentina now becomes the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, granting gays and lesbians all the same rights and responsibilities that heterosexuals have. These include many more rights than civil unions, including adopting children and inheriting wealth.
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"Fear Eats the Soul"
"Fear Eats the Soul"
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