Gay rights activists are celebrating a historic day in Chile after the country became the sixth South American nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
Chile’s landmark law granting equal marriage rights to same-sex couples was passed by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of Chile’s Parliament on Tuesday, December 7th.
"Today is a historic day, our country has approved same-sex marriage, one more step forward in terms of justice, in terms of equality, recognizing that love is love," Minister of Social Development Karla Rubilar said after the vote.
In the bill’s final passage, 82 Senators from across the aisle voted for the act, 20 voted against, and there were 2 abstentions. After the act passed, several deputies in the Chamber hugged, including some from opposing parties, according to The Independent.
The bill will change the definition of marriage in Chilean law to “a solemn contract between two people” rather than “between a man and a woman.”
The new law will also extend full parental rights to same-sex parents, and it will expand spousal benefits and adoption rights for married same-sex couples too.
Chile’s marriage equality bill was first presented by left-leaning President Michelle Bachelet. However, it stalled for four years until it was deemed urgent by current President Sebastián Piñera on June 1st, when he told Chile’s Congress “I think the time has come to guarantee that freedom and that dignity to all people.”
Piñera is expected to sign the bill into law ahead of Chile’s upcoming elections.
