Daniel Abugattas, president of the Congress of Peru, has endorsed
proposed legislation which would recognize gay and lesbian couples
with civil unions.
The 58-year-old Abugattas announced his support during a
wide-ranging interview on Agenda Politica (Political
Agenda).
“It could be a sort of private contract without stressing that
it is for people of the same gender and as a legal concept based on
free association,” Abugattas said. “And not demonize it because
it is exclusively for people of a different sexual orientation.”
However, Abugattas said he is opposed to gay marriage, because it
is an institution that “came before the era of Christ” and
“deserves the utmost respect.”
“If they want to do other things, give it another name (other
than marriage) and do it. But marriage is marriage between people of
different sexes,” he
added.
(Related: Peruvian
cardinal suggests lawmaker pushing for civil unions is gay.)