The Philippine Online Chronicles

For the first time in history, same-sex marriage has been ruled as legal in a country in Latin America. It took over 14 hours to reach a resolution but the lawmakers in the country’s Senate were able to pass the bill according to the state-run Telam news agency. Prior to the marathon hearing that took over half the day to complete, the bill had already passed in the Congress – the lower chamber of the Argentine legislative system.

The new law was backed by President Cristina Kirchner – identified as a center-left politician - who has been quoted to have been poised to sign the bill should it pass both the Senate and the Congress. The bill will give same-sex couples the chance to have equal marriage rights that heterosexual couples have in the status quo. The bill would also allow same sex couples to have the legal ability to adopt children should they choose to do so.

Despite the nation’s predominantly Roman Catholic population, Argentina has been very warmly receiving the pro-gay marriage agenda. The entire continent of South America has mixed policies about the legality of same sex marriage. Argentina is the only country who has moved to legalize it. Proponents of the bill first had a glimmer of hope in May when the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill that would allow same sex couples to marry.

In countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay so-called de facto unions are recognized. There are no legal frameworks as to how these are made official but a same sex couple in these areas that have been living for at least two years are in the eyes of the law the same as a married heterosexual couple. Brazil also has a status of “unregistered cohabitation” that is afforded to same sex couples.

The measure to allow for same sex marriages is being closely considered in Venezuela and Chile while in places like Bolivia and Paraguay, not only is same sex marriage not being recognized, cohabitation is also banned under the law. Bolivia and Paraguay may seem harsh but in Guyana, being gay carries a maximum penalty of life in jail.

There were moves to ban gay marriage in the capital of Buenos Aires but it was promptly quashed by the judiciary saying that such a ban was illegal and unconstitutional. There were other legal challenges that sought to stop the first legal same sex marriages in the country but the judiciary was more than willing to let the first few unions get underway.

The first same sex marriage in Latin America was held in a southern region of Argentina in an area that was led by a pro gay marriage governor. Argentina joins a handful of nations in the world that have embraced same sex marriage as an extension of the basic human rights of a citizen. Other nations who also allow same sex marriage include the Scandinavian countries of Norway and Sweden, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, Canada and South Africa. Much of the rest of Europe has a special sort of partnership in place for same sex couples that is not called “marriage” but has the same legal ramifications.

The passing of the bill was marked by large scale protests by supporters who brought provocative banners that said "Satanas Satanes Socata la Sotana" or "Satan, remove your robe".