While civil unions in Uruguay and marriage in Argentina were approved by legislatures — and civil unions in Ecuador were approved by voters under a new constitution — the Chilean Supreme Court may approve same-sex marriage in that country.
According to the Santiago newspaper El Mercurio, three couples have filed a lawsuit, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.
An attorney for the couples, Jaime Silva, argues that two provisions of the Marriage Act are unconstitutional. The first states that marriage is a solemn contract in which a man and woman come together. The second recognizes that a marriage concluded abroad will be recognized in Chile provided it is between a man and a woman.
Those provisions, Silva argues, violate Article 1 and other provisions in the constitution. Article 1 begins, “Men are born free and equal, in dignity and rights.”
Last summer we reported several South American countries were considering recognizing same-sex relationships.
In Chile, a civil union bill got bogged down in the legislature. Meanwhile, no movement has been reported on the issue in Bolivia, where President Evo Morales and Vice President Álvaro García Linera live together in the presidential palace.
P.S.: That is a Chilean flag. The blue stripe extends to the bottom on the Texas flag.
Cool. It’s time. Onward to full marriage equality now. Joe Mustich, Officiant, Red Studio Farm, Washington Green, CT USA. Kudos to CT for supporting SSM since 2008.
Why do they go to mention Bolivian President Evo Morales and VP Alvaro Garcia Linera living together? They aren’t hinting at homosexuality, are they?