In a wide-ranging interview published
Sunday, Uruguay President Jose Mujica said allowing gay couples to
marry is simply recognizing reality.
Lawmakers last year approved a number
of liberal policies, including legalizing gay marriage, abortion and
marijuana. Uruguay's marijuana law takes effect next month.
“We apply a simple principle: To
recognize the facts. Abortion is as old as the world … Gay
marriage, please, its older than the world,” Mujica told O
Globo.
“Gay marriage … please. We had
Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great. They say it is modern and it's
older than all of us. It is an objective reality. It exists. Not
to legalize it would be unnecessary torture for some people,” he
added.
Sergio Miranda and Rodigo Borda were
the first gay couple to marry under Uruguay's law, which took effect
on August 5, 2013.
(Related: Uruguay
celebrates first public gay wedding.)