Same-sex marriage in Argentina

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Same-sex marriage in Argentina has been legal since July 22, 2010.^[1][2] A bill for legalization was approved on May 5, 2010, by the Chamber of Deputies,^[3] and on July 15, 2010, by the Senate.^[4] President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner signed it on July 21.^[5][6] On July 22, the law was published in the Official Gazette.^[1][2] Argentina became the first country in Latin America and the second in the Americas to allow same-sex marriage nationwide.^[7] It is the tenth country to allow same-sex marriage.^[8]

Civil unions

Civil unions are recognized in four jurisdictions in Argentina: the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (since 2002),^[9] the Province of Río Negro (2003),^[10] the city of Villa Carlos Paz (2007),^[11] and the city of Río Cuarto (2009).^[12] Civil unions are registered unions conducted between two adults of the same or opposite sex, which provide some of the rights granted to married couples, such as health and insurance benefits and hospital visitation. They do not provide inheritance and adoption rights. Civil unions can only be entered into by couples who have lived together for a given time, usually one or two years.

Unregistered cohabitation

On August 19, 2008, the Argentine government announced that it was allowing cohabiting same-sex couples who have lived together for over five years the right to collect the pensions of their deceased partners. This was the first time that unregistered cohabitation or rights for same-sex partners were recognized nationwide.^[13] Four Argentine labor unions have now extended National Security System medical benefits to employees' same-sex partners (the system operates jointly with unions in the health care arena); the benefits are available to members of teacher, commerce employee, executive, and air-transport personnel unions. In December 2005, a judge ordered prisons across the province of Córdoba to authorize conjugal visits for all gay prisoners and allow sexual relations between inmates who develop relationships in prison.^[14][15]

Same-sex marriage

South America

  Same-sex marriage

  Other type of partnership

  Unrecognized or unknown

  No recognition, issue under consideration

  No recognition, all types of partnerships officially banned

  Same-sex sexual activity illegal

Legislative action

Two weeks before the 2009 mid-term elections, Justice Minister Aníbal Fernández issued a statement saying that he was in favor of starting a same-sex marriage debate in congress, that a gender neutral law would "end discrimination", and that "many people are demanding it." Fernández also said that former president Néstor Kirchner, husband of current president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, supported having a wider discussion on same-sex marriage in the country. President Fernández de Kirchner's position on same-sex marriage was unknown at the time. Justice Minister Fernández said he was presently "working toward" presenting a draft law to congress, and that his ministry must first "evaluate all the different aspects of the issue."^[16] The bill was never presented.

In late 2009, the Argentine Congress considered two proposals, sponsored by Silvia Augsburger and Vilma Ibarra, to change Article 172 of the Civil Code. On October 27, 2009, the same-sex marriage bills were debated in the Chamber of Deputies' General Law Committee and the Committee on Family, Women, Children and Youth.^{[17][18][19][20][21]} Ibarra expressed her desire to have same-sex marriage in Argentina approved by the end of 2009.^[22] Debate on the bills continued on November 5 and on November 10, before being postponed and resuming in March 2010.^[23][24][25] A survey taken at the time found that 70% of Argentines supported legalizing same-sex marriage.^[26]

On April 15, 2010, the Chamber of Deputies' General Law Committee and the Committee on Family, Women, Children and Youth recommended implementation of same-sex marriage.^[27][28] On May 5, 2010, the Chamber of Deputies passed the same-sex marriage bill that also allowed same-sex couples to adopt, by a vote of 125 to 109.^[29][30] On July 6, the Senate's General Law Committee recommended rejection of the bill.^[31] The bill was originally scheduled to be voted on July 14,^[32] After a marathon session that went into the early hours of the next day, on July 15 the Senate passed the same-sex marriage bill, by a vote of 33 to 27.^[33][34] On July 21, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner signed the bill into law.^[35][36] On July 22, the law was published in the Official Gazette.^[1][2] The law grants for same-sex couples all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, including the right to adopt children.^[37] The first marriages were performed on July 30, 2010.^[38][39] Until July 14, 2011, 2697 same-sex marriages were performed.^[40]

Judicial rulings

On November 12, 2009, a court in Buenos Aires approved the marriage of a same-sex couple, Alex Freyre and José María Bello, ruling that articles 172 and 188 of the Civil Code were unconstitutional.^[41][42] The city Chief of Government, Mauricio Macri, said he would not appeal the ruling,^[43][44] but the wedding was blocked on November 30 by another court, pending review by the Supreme Court.^[45] In December 2009, the Governor of Tierra del Fuego Province, Fabiana Ríos de Longhi, ordered the civil registry office to perform and register their marriage. On December 28, the two men were legally wed in Ushuaia, the provincial capital city, making them the first same-sex couple to marry in Latin America.^[46] On April 14, 2010, the marriage was declared null and void,^[47][48] but technically remains legal because the decision was not communicated to the parties.^[49] In the event that the parties were notified, the married couple said it would appeal the decision, leaving the marriage legal until the final verdict.^[50][51]

On March 10, 2010, a judge in Buenos Aires declared a second same-sex marriage, between Damián Bernath and Jorge Esteban Salazar Capón, illegal.^[52] And on April 16, a third same-sex marriage between two women was annulled by a judge who ruled that the Buenos Aires Civil Registry limits marriage to a man and a woman.^[53][54] Administrative Judge Elena Liberatori later overturned the decision and ruled the marriage between the two women valid, ordering the Civil Registry of Buenos Aires to deliver the marriage certificate to the court.^[55]

Since the first legal marriage between two people of the same-sex took place in December 2009, seven other same-sex couples have been joined in legal matrimony in Argentina.^[56] The Supreme Court was hearing several cases concerning the right of same-sex couples to marry.^[57] On July 2, 2010, a some media reported about that, the Supreme Court had a prepared ruling concerning María Rachid and Claudia Castro's case, which declared articles 172 and 188 of the Civil Code as unconstitutional.^[58][59]

Opposition

In a country where the majority of the population are Roman Catholic, the approval of the law came despite strong opposition by the Catholic Church in Argentina led by the Catholic Primate of Argentina, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Evangelical groups also joined the opposition.^[4][60]

See also

	LGBT portal
	Argentina portal

• LGBT rights in Argentina
• Common-law marriage

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} (Spanish) BOLETIN OFICIAL DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA Buenos Aires, jueves 22 de julio de 2010
2. ^ ^{a b c} (Spanish) Se publicó en el Boletín Oficial la ley de matrimonio homosexual
3. ^ "Lower House votes in favour of same-sex marriage, allows adoption". Buenosairesherald.com. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/32477/lower-house-votes-in-favour-of-samesex-marriage-allows-adoption. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Warren, Michael (July 15, 2010). "Argentina legalizes gay marriage in historic vote". Associated Press. Google News. Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5rMTPjHP2. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
5. ^ "CFK enacts same-sex marriage law, says 'we live in a more equal society'". Buenosairesherald.com. July 21, 2010. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/39943/cfk-enacts-samesex-marriage-law-says-we-live-in-a-more-equal-society. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
6. ^ andre (July 22, 2010). "Cristina formalized the gay marriage law". Momento24.com. http://momento24.com/en/2010/07/21/cristina-formalized-the-gay-marriage-law/. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
7. ^ Forero, Juan (2010-07-15). "Argentina becomes second nation in Americas to legalize gay marriage". seattletimes.nwsource.com. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012368514_argentina16.html. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
8. ^ Fastenberg, Dan (July 22, 2010). "International Gay Marriage". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2005678,00.html. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
9. ^ "Same-sex couples legal in BA". Buenos Aires Herald. March 2010. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. http://replay.web.archive.org/20070928135630/http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=1031&Key=ARGENTINA. 
10. ^ (Spanish) "En 5 años, sólo 10 parejas gays pasaron por el Registro Civil". Diario Río Negro. 2008-02-03. http://www.rionegro.com.ar/diario/2008/02/03/20082v03s01.php. 
11. ^ (Spanish) "Córdoba: aprueban la unión civil entre homosexuales en Villa Carlos Paz". Diario Clarín. 2008-11-23. http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/11/23/um/m-01547228.htm. 
12. ^ (Spanish) Río Cuarto: aprueban la unión civil de parejas gays, May 7 2009
13. ^ Argentina grants gay couples partner pensions, CNN, August 19 2008
14. ^ "Judge OKs conjugal visits for gay prisoners". Laht.com. http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=14093&ArticleId=206402. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
15. ^ "Homosexual Rights Around The World". Web.archive.org. December 10, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20051210062004/http://www.actwin.com/eatonohio/gay/world.htm. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
16. ^ "Aníbal Fernández supports parliamentary debate on same-sex marriages". Buenosairesherald.com. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/4013/aníbal-fernández-supports-parliamentary-debate-on-samesex-marriages. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
17. ^ Bolcer, Julie. "Argentina Debates Gay Marriage". Advocate.com. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/30/Argentina_Debates_Gay_Marriage/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
18. ^ Stonewall, National. "Argentina's Quest for Marriage Equality". Gayrights.change.org. http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/argentinas_quest_for_marriage_equality. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
19. ^ (Spanish) "Matrimonio homosexual, un derecho en discusión". http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1191578. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
20. ^ (Spanish) "Debate el Congreso el matrimonio gay". http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1191079. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
21. ^ (Spanish) "El matrimonio gay es debate parlamentario". 2009-10-27. http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-134183-2009-10-27.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
22. ^ (Spanish) "Diputados aprobaría este año el proyecto de matrimonio gay". http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1192244. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
23. ^ (Spanish) "Avanza en Argentina el debate sobre el matrimonio homosexual con la experiencia del caso español". http://frecuenciagay.reservasgays.com/__n975770__Avanza_en_Argentina_el_debate_sobre_el_matrimonio_homosexual_con_la_experiencia_del_caso_espanol.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
24. ^ (Spanish) "Duro rechazo de la Iglesia argentina al casamiento gay". Translate.googleusercontent.com. http://frecuenciagay.reservasgays.com/__n975879__Duro_rechazo_de_la_Iglesia_argentina_al_casamiento_gay.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
25. ^ (Spanish) "Diputados: la ley del matrimonio gay se postergó para el 2010". 2009-11-10. http://www.notiexpress.com.ar/contentFront/nacionales-7/diputados-la-ley-del-matrimonio-gay-se-postergo-para-el-2010--70699.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
26. ^ Long Brenhaug (2010-07-10). "Congress begins to debate gay marriage". Momento24.com. http://momento24.com/en/2009/10/28/congress-begins-to-debate-gay-marriage/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
27. ^ (Spanish) "Diputados ya puede tratar la ley de matrimonio homosexual". 2010-04-15. http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2010/4/15/un-484245.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
28. ^ (Spanish) "El proyecto sobre matrimonio gay quedó habilitado para ser tratado en el recinto de Diputados". http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1254491. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
29. ^ "Lower House approves gay marriage". momento24.com. 2010-05-05. http://momento24.com/en/2010/05/05/lower-house-approves-gay-marriage/. 
30. ^ Bolcer, Julie (2010-05-04). "Argentina's Lower House OKs Marriage Bill". The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/04/Argentinas_Lower_House_OKs_Gay_Marriage_Bill/. 
31. ^ "This is how the Argentineans representatives voted on the preliminary on gay marriage". Momento24.com. September 22, 2011. http://momento24.com/en/2010/07/06/this-is-how-the-argentineans-representatives-voted-on-the-preliminary-on-gay-marriage/. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
32. ^ "Key Argentine Senate Panel Advises Against Gay Marriage Bill". Ontopmag.com. 2010-07-06. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5990&MediaType=1&Category=24. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
33. ^ Dwyer Arce (July 15, 2010). "Argentina Senate passes same-sex marriage legislation". JURIST – Paper Chase. http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/07/argentina-senate-passes-same-sex-marriage-legislation.php. 
34. ^ "Upper House approves same-sex marriage bill after marathon-like debate". Buenosairesherald.com. July 13, 2010. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/39207/upper-house-approves-samesex-marriage-bill-after-marathonlike-debate. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
35. ^ "President Cristina Fernandez Ratifies Argentine Gay Marriage Law". Ontopmag.com. July 21, 2010. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=6085&MediaType=1&Category=24. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
36. ^ "Argentina's gay marriage law signed by president". Signonsandiego.com. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/21/argentinas-gay-marriage-law-signed-by-president/. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
37. ^ Mail Foreign Service (July 15, 2010). "Argentina defies Catholic Church and becomes first Latin America country to legalise gay marriage". Daily Mail. UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1294939/Argentina-legalises-gay-marriage.html. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
38. ^ "BA couple becomes first same-sex marriage in the city". Buenosairesherald.com. July 30, 2010. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/40758/ba-samesex-couple-becomes-first-to-marry-in-the-city. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
39. ^ "Argentine gay couple tie knot under new marriage law". BBC. July 30, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10823279. Retrieved November 20, 2011. 
40. ^ Argentina celebrates 2,697 same-sex marriages^{[dead link]}
41. ^ "Argentine Court Opens Door To Gay Marriage". Ontopmag.com. 2009-11-14. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4863&MediaType=1&Category=24. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
42. ^ "Judge authorizes Argentina's first gay marriage". Momento24.com. http://momento24.com/en/2009/11/13/judge-authorizes-argentinas-first-gay-marriage/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
43. ^ "Buenos Aires mayor won't appeal same-sex ruling". CNN. 2009-11-14. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/11/14/argentina.same.sex.marriage/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
44. ^ "Macri will not appeal the ruling that enabled a gay wedding". Momento24.com. http://momento24.com/en/2009/11/13/macri-will-not-appeal-the-ruling-that-enabled-a-gay-wedding/. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
45. ^ "Argentine judge stops gay marriage". BBC News. November 30 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8387602.stm. 
46. ^ "Argentine gay couple becomes first in region to marry". BBC News. 2009-12-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8433240.stm. Retrieved 2010-10-1. 
47. ^ Posted by Andrés Duque (2010-04-14). "Argentina: Tierra del Fuego court annuls first Latin American same-sex marriage". Blabbeando.blogspot.com. http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2010/04/argentina-has-1st-ever-same-se.html. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
48. ^ "First Same-Sex Marriage in Argentina Annulled". Towleroad.com. http://www.towleroad.com/2010/04/first-samesex-marriage-in-argentina-annulled.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Daily++%23gay+news%29. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
49. ^ (Spanish) "Abogada de pareja gay asegura que “el matrimonio está vigente”". http://www.lmcordoba.com.ar/nota.php?ni=10181. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
50. ^ (Spanish) "El primer matrimonio gay aseguró no haber recibido la notificación sobre la "inexistencia" del enlace". La Nación. July 14, 2010. http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1254262. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
51. ^ (Spanish) "Boda gay: "Seguimos legalmente casados"". 26Noticias. http://www.26noticias.com.ar/boda-gay-seguimos-legalmente-casados-108210.html. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
52. ^ "Argentina judge revokes same-sex 'marriage' decision". Catholicnewsagency.com. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/argentina_judge_revokes_same-sex_marriage_decision. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
53. ^ "Judge declares "null and non existent" first lesbian marriage in Argentina". En.mercopress.com. 2010-04-17. http://en.mercopress.com/2010/04/17/judge-declares-null-and-non-existent-first-lesbian-marriage-in-argentina. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
54. ^ "Argentine Judges Nix Gay Nuptials". Santiagotimes.cl. 2010-04-18. http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18634:argentine-judges-nix-gay-nuptials&catid=43:human-rights&Itemid=39. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
55. ^ "Judge now reaffirms Argentina's first lesbian marriage". Gaynewswatch.com. 2010-04-19. http://www.gaynewswatch.com/Page.cfm?PageID=22&SID=8403. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
56. ^ "Eighth Gay Couple Marries In Argentina". Ontopmag.com. 2010-06-30. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5959&MediaType=1&Category=24. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
57. ^ (Spanish) "El matrimonio gay en Argentina podría tener luz verde si la Corte autoriza dos casos". Frecuencia Gay. November 21, 2009. http://frecuenciagay.diariomadrid.eu/__n1001431__El_matrimonio_gay_en_Argentina_podria_tener_luz_verde_si_la_Corte_autoriza_dos_casos.html. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
58. ^ (Spanish) Matrimonio homosexual: Corte Suprema ya tendría escrito el fallo a favor
59. ^ (Spanish) La Corte Suprema ya tendría preparado un fallo a favor del matrimonio gay
60. ^ (Spanish) PRIMERA ENCUESTA SOBRE CREENCIAS Y ACTITUDES RELIGIOSAS EN ARGENTINA