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(Montevideo) Uruguay is set to become the latest
country to recognize the legal rights of gay couples.
Congress is expected to pass legislation creating
a civil union registry for same and unmarried opposite-sex couples. The measure
already has passed the Senate.
The measure was a campaign promise of the ruling
leftist coalition and is expected to encounter little difficulty in House.
Same-sex marriage will remain illegal in Uruguay,
something LGBT rights groups say they will continue to fight. But, they
say the civil union bill is a major step in the right direction in a region
where the Catholic Church dominates much of everyday life.
Because of the marriage ban judges have been
unsure how to rule in a number of cases involving same-sex couples, particularly
in areas of adoption, pensions and inheritance.
Sen. Margarita Percovich , the author of the
legislation said the bill would give couples entering civil unions the same
rights as marriage.
Under the legislation couples would have be
together for at least five years and sign a registry.
In neighboring Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul state
which lies along the border, passed civil union legislation in 2004, two years
after Buenos Aires passed a similar law.
But the measure in Uruguay would
make the country the first in South America to have a national civil union law.
Chile could soon follow. Legislation will be introduced in the Chile Congress
later this year to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions.
©365Gay.com 2006
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