Chile has become the eighth country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage after passing a historic bill that allows unions between people of the same sex, one of the greatest wishes of the LGTBI community in the country.
In an unprecedented and transversely celebrated day, Congress gave the green light to a bill that had been under discussion for more than four years and that as soon as it is promulgated allow two people of the same sex to marry.
With this decision, Chile follows in the wake of other Latin American countries that recently approved it such as Costa Rica or Ecuador, and others that have been contemplating this right for years, such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and several states of Mexico.
“It is a historic, revolutionary step that it changes the history of the country and ends with the systematic abuse towards certain types of families “exclaimed Ramón Gómez, in charge of Human Rights of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh), an emblematic organization that has been fighting for this right for years.
In the central Plaza Italia de Santiago hundreds of people gathered in the afternoon in a festive atmosphere to celebrate this law, which it also recognizes the “filiative” rights of homosexuals, that is to say, the possibility that the children are recognized in common.
“Today we can end many years of homophobia and transphobia and we are here celebrating love,” said Matías Ovalle, a young man who took to the streets to celebrate.
The proposal obtained broad support in both chambers: in the Chamber of Deputies it was approved by 82 votes in favor, 20 against and 2 abstentions; While, hours before, the Upper House gave the go-ahead with the support of 21 senators, 8 against and 3 abstentions.
Among the opposition, support was resounding and within the ruling party (center-right) it was majority, partly due to the push that the project brought after the current president, the right-wing Sebastián Piñera, was in favor and urged their discussion last July.
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