A bill which seeks to make Chile the fourth South American nation after Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina to allow gay couples to marry was formally introduced on Wednesday.
The measure is backed by a coalition of lawmakers and the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh), the nation’s leading LGBT rights advocate.
“In terms of civil marriage today, not everyone can marry, which is due to a lack of equality, of rights,” said Deputy Gabriel Silber (pictured), a Christian Democrat. “From a legislative point of view, we are called to bring transparency and opportunity to all.”
The bill seeks to alter the definition of marriage in Chile’s Civil Marriage Act from “between a man and a woman” to “between two people.”
Silber added that he hopes the government will back the proposal. President Michelle Bachelet endorsed marriage equality during her campaign and pledged to open a discussion on the subject.
A bill which proposed recognizing gay couples with civil unions cleared the Senate in October. Silber said that the priority is to secure final approval in Parliament of the Life Partner Agreement (Acuerdo de Vida en Pareja), or AVP, but insisted that the debate on marriage should begin now.
by On Top Magazine Staff
Source – On Top Magazine
