El Salvador's Legislative Assembly has
rejected a constitutional amendment aimed at banning gay marriage in
the Central American nation.
According to Spanish
news agency EFE, only 19 out of 84 lawmakers on Friday voted in
favor of the ban.
The measure, which cleared the chamber
in 2012, defines marriage as between a man and a woman and their
children. It also seeks to prohibit El Salvador from recognizing
the foreign marriages of gay couples and bans gays from adopting
children.
A constitutional amendment requires the
approval of two consecutive legislatures; a simple majority (43
votes) during the first reading followed by a supermajority (56).
Previous efforts have also failed to
clear the two-thirds majority hurdle. A 2009 attempt included
broader support, with 46 lawmakers voting for the ban.
A parliamentary session in El Salvador
is three years.