Chile's President Michelle Bachelet
promised on Wednesday that her government would introduce a bill
giving gay and lesbian couples access to marriage in the first half
of 2017.
“My government has committed to
submit to Congress a bill on marriage equality during the first half
of 2017,” Bachelet said during a United Nations General Assembly
panel on LGBT rights.
“Furthermore, it will also consider
governmental support for several measures destined to strengthen the
rights of the LGBT community, including reforms to
anti-discrimination laws,” she added.
(Related: In
final UN speech, Obama calls opposition to gay rights “old way of
thinking.”)
Chile legalized civil unions for gay
couples last year.
Gay couples can marry in several Latin
American nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and a handful
of Mexican states.
(Related: Brian
Brown to lead protest against Mexican proposal to legalize gay
marriage nationwide.)
Bachelet campaigned on a promise of
greater rights for the LGBT community. Campaigners backed the civil
unions bill introduced by Bachelet's predecessor in part because they
did not believe Bachelet would follow through on her promise to back
same-sex marriage.