While most of us in the western hemisphere were sleeping, the Senate of Argentina passed a law making same-sex marriage legal for the first time in a Latin American country.
Despite a fierce anti-gay campaign waged by both the Mormon and Catholic churches (big surprise!) in the mostly Catholic nation, the senate voted 33-27 to pass the bill that had the backing of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who through her actions, defines the words "fierce advocate". The vote came just after 4:00 a.m. Thursday morning.
Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry released this statement:
"Today's historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come as twelve countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality. Argentina's vote for the freedom to marry marks an important advance for fairness and family values as more couples around the world will now share in marriage, with families helped and no one hurt. Today's vote adds momentum to the international movement to secure the freedom to marry for all loving and committed couples."
"Key to Argentina's human rights achievement was strong leadership from legislators and the president. It is time we see more of our own elected officials standing up for the Constitution and all families here in the United States. America should lead, not lag, when it comes to treating everyone equally under the law."
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