San Antonio Spurs star guard Manu
Ginobili says he supports a gay marriage bill being debated in the
Argentine Senate, the Mendoza-based El Sol reported.
The NBA All-Star made his remarks
during a brief news conference in Mendoza.
“I am all for marriage,” Ginobili
said. “I think we all have the same rights.”
The 32-year-old Ginobili is considered
the best basketball player to come out of the Latin American country.
He spent the early part of his basketball career in Argentina and
Italy. In 2002, he joined the Spurs and has since earned three NBA
championship rings.
Senators
began debate Wednesday on the gay marriage bill approved by Congress'
lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, last May. Analysts believe
the vote is too close to call.
Opponents of the bill in the Roman
Catholic stronghold have strongly objected to the bill's inclusion of
gay adoption. A second bill that recognizes gay and lesbian couples
with civil unions but would forbid adoption was recommended by a key
Senate committee over marriage.
Ginobili gave no comment on the
adoption controversy.
“With regard to adoption, I do not
feel able to give an opinion,” he said.