Uruguayans in the Congress building after the same-sex marriage bill passed. (Photo: REUTERS/Andres Stapff )
BY ZACK FORD
ThinkProgress
With a vote of 71-21, the Uruguay House of Representatives approved same-sex marriage on Wednesday. With the Senate’s approval last week and the President’s promise to sign it, Uruguay is officially the 12th country to legalize same-sex marriage. It is only the second in Latin America, along with Argentina, although Mexico City offers same-sex marriage and the Mexican Supreme Court has ruled that those marriages should be recognized throughout the country, so it could follow along soon enough. The other ten countries are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden. France may soon become the 13th.
The new Uruguay law, which won’t take effect for about three months, will eliminate any gender boundaries to marriage, such that any two consenting individuals can become spouses. All couples will now be allowed to adopt children as well.
Read more at ThinkProgress.org
