ARGENTINA-SAME-SEX/MARRIAGE Argentine same-sex couples renew their vows to mark five-year anniversary of country's marriage equality law

Record ID: 147047

  • Title: ARGENTINA-SAME-SEX/MARRIAGE Argentine same-sex couples renew their vows to mark five-year anniversary of country's marriage equality law
  • Date: 16th July 2015
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 15, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF CHILDREN HANDING FLOWERS TO PEOPLE AT CELEBRATION VARIOUS OF LGBT ACTIVISTS HANDING ROSES TO COUPLES WHO RENEWED THEIR MARRIAGE VOWS VARIOUS OF GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES RENEWING THEIR MARRIAGE VOWS AND PEOPLE APPLAUDING VARIOUS OF COUPLES WHO RENEWED VOWS THROWING FLOWERS
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA842C0CCBLDGJYLGPZVTTXP2SC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of Argentine same-sex couples renewed their marriage vows on Wednesday (July 16) to mark the five-year anniversary of the passage of the country's marriage equality law.
    In a ceremony in Buenos Aires, couples and their friends and families celebrated their individual relationships and the growth of rights for the LGBT community.
    "Today, we must celebrate this because it (marriage equality law) cost so much. It cost a lot of time, it cost lives and it gave us much joy and it will continue to give much joy," said activist Cesar Cigliutti.
    Argentina legalized same-sex marriage in the early morning hours of July 15, 2010, paving the way for the country to become the first in Latin America to allow same-sex couples to marry.
    At the time, only a small number of countries permitted same-sex marriage, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Canada.
    Since then, acceptance for same sex marriage has grown in the Americas and Europe.
    Martin Canevaro of the 100% Diversity and Rights activist group said he was proud to have contributed to making the country more accepting of sexual diversity.
    "I think this is the best reason for joy, that there's a new generation of gays, lesbians and people who are trans who are leaving a much better country, a much freer country for them so they can express that joy," he said.
    The Argentine bill, which also gave homosexual couples the right to adopt children, first passed the House, then the Senate, clearing the way for Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, who backed it, to sign it into law.
    As the bill was debated in the Senate for 14 hours, thousands of gay rights supporters braved the cold night and rallied outside, watching the results on a jumbo screen in the Congressional Plaza. When the results were read, the crowd cheered in celebration and chanted "equality" as they hugged friends and loved ones.
    Same sex marriage has gained wider acceptance in Western countries. Most recently, the United States and Ireland legalized gay marriage, which is also legal in Britain, France, Brazil and Uruguay. No nation in Africa or Asia allows same sex marriage.
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