Peru has announced it will debate a gay
unions bill after Argentina became the first country in the region to
legalize gay marriage.
Congressman Jose A. Vargas has told the
Peru press that he will introduce a bill that recognizes gay and
lesbian couples with civil partnerships.
“There are people in Peru who have
freely chosen to build a life together … and in a democratic
society we have an obligation to protect them because there is a
fundamental democratic principle against discrimination,” Vargas, a
member of the ruling Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana (APRA)
Party, said.
Vargas insisted the bill is “not
marriage” and would not allow gay couples to adopt children “but
it includes other [rights] such as inheritance and social security.”
Gay couples would be required to live
together for a minimum of one year.
Warning that the bill is a ploy to win
voters' affections, the Roman Catholic Church urged against the
measure.
Consideration of gay unions in Latin
American has increased dramatically after Argentina approved its
historic law. Two of Argentina's
neighbors – Uruguay and Paraguay – are expected to debate gay
marriage. And Chile
will consider a bill that recognizes gay and lesbian couples with
civil unions.