Thousands take to streets in Ecuador after court rules same-sex marriage ban illegal

More than 18,000 people have taken to the streets in Ecuador in celebration of Pride just hours after a court ruled that the same-sex marriage ban in the country was illegal. The ruling marks the first time a legal institution in the country has ruled in favour of equal marriage.

Hearing the case of a lesbian couple in the city of Cuenca, Judges Vallejo and Alvarez ruled that the Civil Registry must “immediately” allow the women to get married, saying to not do so violates the human rights of LGBT+ people in the country. The ruling is expected to have national consequences.

Upon hearing the ruling, Quito Pride swelled to more than 18,000 people. The capital city became a beacon of LGBT+ celebration, with marchers chanting “Nobody gets tired with diversity” (Por la diversidad, nadie se cansa). One man had “I am not your joke” written across his body, while another held the banner “I do not want to die for being trans.”