Uruguay is expected to debate
legislation which would legalize gay marriage before the end of the
year.
Paul Maqueira of the Ministry of
Education and Culture (MEC) told El
Pais that an initial draft of the measure had already been
prepared.
“The idea is to promote a marriage
equality project so that gay couples have equal access to marriage as
heterosexuals,” he said.
Maqueira declined to say when the
proposal might reach lawmakers but said he felt this would happen
“before the end of the year.”
The move comes a week after a court in
Uruguay for the first time recognized the legal marriage of a gay
couple.
Judge Eduardo Martinez recognized on
appeal the legality of a marriage entered into in Spain, where
Socialists legalized marriage equality in 2005.
The binational couple lives in both
Uruguay and Spain.
Currently, Uruguay recognizes gay and
lesbian couples with civil unions. After a couple has lived in a
“stable relationship” for 5 years they may petition the
government for recognition.
If approved, Uruguay would become only
the second South American country after Argentina to legalize
marriage equality.