- Title: ARGENTINA: Judge allows gay wedding in legal first
- Date: 14th November 2009
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) WIDE OF GAY RIGHTS PARADE
- Embargoed: 29th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Legal System
- Reuters ID: LVABD2VUZRGO85YL6TF9RS2PXLMP
- Story Text: An Argentine judge has granted a homosexual couple permission to get married, setting a precedent that could pave the way for the Catholic country to become the first in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage.
The ruling by Judge Gabriela Seijas could put more pressure on lawmakers to debate a gay marriage bill currently deadlocked in Congress.
Last week, thousands of gay people and gay rights supporters took to the streets to participate in the Buenos Aires Gay Pride Parade which took on a gay marriage theme as many participators carried banners and chanted slogans demanding the right to marry.
Alejandro Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello participated in the march just last week and now they have been granted the right to have the first gay wedding in Latin America.
Freyre and Di Bello celebrated the decision Friday (November 13) at the courtroom and told Reuters they couldn't be more excited and are hoping this will open the door for all of Argentina's gay couples who are hoping to wed.
"Let's see, we obviously feel happy, excited, nervous, and with an excess of responsibility because this does not only impact us, in terms of all that we were just saying and what Alex [Alejandro Freyre] just said. And obviously what comes next is to make this personal desire concrete, but not only on a personal level, but for everyone who is waiting. For all of the emails and phone calls we have received today, saying 'we need this, thank you', they told us, 'thank you', and this 'thank you', I swear, I will always take with me in my heart," said Di Bello.
The attorney representing Argentina's Homosexual Community, or CHA, told Reuters that the question is not about pitting homosexuality against heterosexuality, but rather a question of rights granted by the constitution and protected by the law.
"The discussion is not whether we are for or against homosexuality, or if we are saying that heterosexually or homosexuality is better or worse. Here we are speaking about plain citizenship, we are speaking about the exercising of rights and in the constitution it is very clear, the principles are very clear: to impede a person, because of there sexual orientation or their sex, to get married is discriminatory, however you look at it, and it is unconstitutional, like this judge has said," said Paradiso.
Buenos Aires became the first city in Latin America to allow homosexual couples to join in civil unions in 2003.
Other Argentine cities and Mexico City eventually followed suit and Uruguay passed a nationwide law to that effect late last year.
Argentina is one of several countries moving to bolster gay rights in Latin America, home to about half the world's Roman Catholics, despite church opposition to same-sex unions.
Paradiso says the ruling may put the Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in an awkward position as she is reportedly planning a trip to the Vatican later this month.
"When the Pope has the question if civil unions and [gay] marriage on the agenda, it is as if the world has ended. Of course, it can't be easy for any president to arrive at the Vatican to meet with the Pope with a law like this in their hands. It would not be the best gift for the Pope. But, fine, we are not looking for gifts nor recognition. We are talking about something else, and there is not any room for doubt, they apply pressure. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the pressure form the Catholic Church is very strong," added Paradiso.
In 2008, Argentina granted gays the right to inherit a partner's pension if they are widowed, extending a benefit that straight couples have long enjoyed.
Gay rights activists say they have a growing number of support in Congress and hope to pass legislation to change laws that define marriage as between a man and a woman. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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