Argentina has become the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage. The Argentine Senate approved the measure in a 33-27 vote, which came at 4am after a 14 hour debate. Media say hundreds of supporters of the law erupted in cheers and tears when they received news of the, as they waited outside Congress in the cold. The law allows same-sex couples to marry, adopt children and inherit property. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has indicated that she will quickly sign it into law quickly. "If we think that 50 years ago women could not vote and not that long ago in the US you couldn't have interracial marriages, and that in Argentina the only way to get married was in the church, and we found a way to change all that, we can say this is a positive step that defends the rights of minorities," she told reporters. The law, which will make Argentina one of the most liberal countries in the world when it comes to gay rights, faced fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups. Opponents staged a huge rally earlier in the week, with about 60,000 people marching to Congress. The head of Argentina's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Federation María Rachid, said opponents had a right to protest the bill, "but what is not right is that they try and impose this opposition on the rest of society".
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 16th July 2010 - 2:48pm