Same-sex marriage is currently illegal in Argentina, although the country was
the first in Latin America to authorize same-sex civil unions in 2003. This
legislation does not contemplate several rights currently available for married
couples, such as inheritance, adoption, or a survivor's pension in the event
one of the partners dies. Two regions allow gay and lesbian civil unions: the
province of Rio Negro and the federal district autonomous city of Buenos Aires.
According to the Buenos Aires Civil Registry Office, 344 civil unions were
recorded in 2006. Of these, 239 involve heterosexual couples, 65 involve male
same-sex couples, and 40 involve female same-sex couples.
Argentina's Congress is scheduled to review in October whether same-sex and
heterosexual civil unions should have equal rights. The proposal was developed
by an umbrella organization, known as the Argentinean Homosexual Community
(CHA).
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada
and South Africa, and at least 18 countries offer some form of legal
recognition to same-sex unions.
Polling Data
Do you agree o disagree with same-sex marriage?
Agree - 73.1%
Disagree - 25.6%
Not sure - 1.3%
