Bolivia Approves First Same-Sex Union Following Legal Battle
December 14, 2020Bolivia’s civil registry has, for the first time, authorised a same-sex civil union following a two-year legal battle, a decision activists in the Andean nation hope will pave the way for an overhaul of the country’s marriage laws.
David Aruquipa, a 48-year-old businessman, and Guido Montaño, a 45-year-old lawyer, were initially denied the right to register their union in 2018 by authorities in Bolivia, who said the country’s laws did not allow same sex marriage.
The couple then took their case to court. While the Bolivian Constitution still does not contemplate same sex unions, Montaño and Aruquipa argued successfully the prohibition violated international human rights standards and constituted discrimination under Bolivian law, as ‘Reuters’ reports.
“It is an initial step, but what inspires us is (the goal) of transforming the law,” said Aruquipa, a well-known local activist for LGBT+ causes.
Despite considerable opposition from religious groups, gay marriage has become increasingly accepted in Latin America, with same sex couples now allowed to marry in Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and parts of Mexico.
The executive director of Human Rights Watch, Americas Division, José Miguel Vivanco took to Twitter, stating: “Gay and lesbian couples are an integral part of Bolivia’s social fabric and deserve to be recognized by the state.”
He continued: “All civil registries in Bolivia should stop treating them like second-class citizens and start recognising their unions”
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