URUGUAY: First Uruguayan same sex couple to tie the knot publicly sends a powerful message to Russia.

Record ID: 277961

  • Title: URUGUAY: First Uruguayan same sex couple to tie the knot publicly sends a powerful message to Russia.
  • Date: 22nd August 2013
  • Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (AUGUST 22, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF A CIVIL REGISTRY THE URUGUAYAN FLAG AND NATIONAL SEAL SIGN FOR THE CIVIL REGISTRY SAME SEX MALE COUPLE ARRIVING TO CIVL UNION COUPLE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE GROOMS THE COUPLE ARRIVING TO THE OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRY THE MOTHER APPLAUDING GROOM, RODRIGO BORDA, SIGNING MARRIAGE CERTIFICAT
  • Embargoed: 6th September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACAV7NH4PNDLLQEP2CC2S9J2RL
  • Story Text: The first gay couple to publicly tie the knot in Uruguay made their way to the civil registry in Montevideo Thursday (August 22) to make their marriage official.
    Sergio Miranda, 45, and Rodrigo Borda, 39, were the first same sex couple to register to marry on August 5 when the South American country's Equal Marriage Law first went into effect.
    Under Uruguayan law couples must wait at least 10 days after registering before marrying.
    However, another gay couple was given special permission to wed shortly after they registered on August 5 because one of the two men was terminally ill, making them the officially first same sex couple to wed, though that couple shunned media attention and kept their ceremony private.
    Miranda, a television and theatre director and producer and Borda, an artist, however have taken to the media attention and on Wednesday used it to send a strong message to the international community.
    "It is very important personal moment and we are also aware that it is an important historical moment for the country which goes beyond the two of us. Uruguay is sending a very strong message to the rest of the world. A message of equality, of inclusion and of diversity. A message that there are no first or second class citizens; that there are no rights that are for some, but not for others. And more than anything, a message that I think is for the international community, that at the same time Uruguay enacts the Equal Marriage Law and the first [same sex] couple gets married today at the civil registry in Montevideo, countries like Russia have laws that aren't just homophobic, but are nefarious and repress the free life and expression of people and also incite violence and persecution; a law which is an international embarrassment. It really surprises me how a powerful and modern country like Russia in the 21st century can sign and approve a deplorable law like this. And hopefully the international community, foreign ministers, and the masses will protest against and repudiate this horrifying law," Miranda said.
    In June Russia's parliament passed a controversial law banning the spread of gay "propaganda" that has sparked outrage and triggered protests in many countries especially as the Russia prepares to host next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi.
    Critics say the new law effectively bans all gay rights rallies and could be used to prosecute anyone voicing support for homosexuals.
    Uruguay, on the other hand, became the second South American country and the 12th in the world to legalize same sex marriage when its Equal Marriage Law was approved by the lower house of Congress back in April.
    Now legally married, Miranda and Borda say they are planning a wedding ceremony for September.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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