A law giving gay and lesbian couples
the right to marry in Argentina celebrates its second anniversary
this week.
Argentina became the first Latin
American country to legalize gay marriage after President Christina
Fernandez de Kirchner signed the law on July 21, 2010. Lawmakers
approved the law on July 15 over the strong objections of the Roman
Catholic Church; one cardinal called the movement to legalize such
unions the devil's handiwork.
A couple together 27 years was the
first to marry under the law. Architect Juan Carlos Navarro married
his partner Miguel Angel Calefato in Santiago del Estero on July 30.
More than 6,000 gay couples have tied
the knot since the law's adoption, most of which took place in the
nation's capital of Buenos Aires and its surrounding province,
according to gay advocate Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA).
“The bottom line is that for two
years we've had this right, the State recognizes our families and our
country's democracy respects diversity, as it should be around the
world,” said
Cesar Cigliutti, president of the CHA.
It is estimated that Argentina has
2,400,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons.
Gay marriage is also legal in the
city-state of Mexico City, whose marriages are recognized throughout
Mexico.