 |
 Argentine gay couple becomes first in region to marry
Two Argentine men have become the first gay couple in Latin America to marry.
Alejandro Freyre, 39, and Jose Maria Di Bello, 41, tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the southern city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego province.
Gay marriage is illegal in Argentina. However, the Tierra del Fuego governor issued a special decree allowing the couple to wed there.
A judge in the capital, Buenos Aires, prevented the couple from marrying there earlier this month.
The men, who are both HIV-positive, had planned to get married on 1 December, world Aids day.
They eventually travelled to Tierra del Fuego, where they received the support of provincial governor Fabiana Rios.
Grey area
Although Argentina's civil code bans gay marriage, the constitution is silent on the matter.
Correspondents say the governor exploited this grey area and gave the two men a special dispensation.
"We're extremely excited and happy about what this means for all gays and lesbians in Argentina," Mr Di Bello said.
An association of Catholic lawyers has questioned the legality of the marriage.
Catholic leaders have argued civil union, which is legal in four Argentine cities, should be sufficient.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on gay marriage next year.
(2009/12/29-BBCNEWS) |
首頁 
聯絡我們
