ARGENTINA: Inheritance rights to same-sex couples

Record ID: 277116

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Inheritance rights to same-sex couples
  • Date: 22nd August 2008
  • Summary: (L!1) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (AUGUST 19, 2008) (REUTERS) SENTHEIM AND CIGLUITTI AT THEIR HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 6th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Legal System
  • Reuters ID: LVAE80A8G3INCEEVPDLM7L88HJEY
  • Story Text: Argentina extended on Tuesday (August 18) inheritance rights to same-sex couples who have been registered as living together for at least five years.
    The measure established identical regulations as those for heterosexual couples.
    The signing ceremony at the National Administration for Social Security (ANSeS) came three days after Argentine President Cristina Ferndandez approved the law in a closed meeting at the Argentine Government House.
    Officials from the Argentine Homosexual Community (CHA) championed the decision.

    "Moments like these are never truly expected. The joy comes from the genuine shock. What is clear is that none of this is a step backwards.
    Because it is part of a much larger advance, throughout Western society, and that is the request for human rights," said CHA Secretary Marcelo Suntheim.
    Argentina has been at the vanguard of same sex rights since Buenos Aires became the first Latin American region to recognize same-sex civil unions in 2002.
    The first civil union that year at the Buenos Aires civil registry was between Suntheim and his partner, Cesar Cigliutti, the president of CHA.
    CHA hopes to continue its momentum by advance its next cause a bill that grants equal health care packages for same-sex couples which will be heard by the Chamber of Deputies this week.

    "The public understands that nobody can exercise the right to exclude anyone or discriminate against anyone in any context, including those of sexual orientation and gender identity," said CHA's Legal Coordinator Pedro Anibal Paradiso Sottile.
    A recent poll showed that 59 percent of Argentines agreed with extending inheritance rights to same sex couples, according to the survey conducted by the CEOP group.
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