Argentina becomes first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage

Argentina has just become the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage. The Senate passed a bill on Thursday morning after a lengthy debate, according to the Telam news agency, reports CNN.

The bill, which was endorsed by the President Cristina Kirchner, not only legalizes gay marriage, but also allows the couples to adopt.

The upper house voted 33-27 for the proposal after 14 hours of debate, according to Reuters. The bill had already passed the lower chamber of Congress.

The New York Times reports that 70% of Argentinians support marriage equality.

Recently, Argentina’s highest-ranking Catholic prelate called the gay marriage bill a “machination” of the devil.

Gay marriage became legal in Mexico City in March earlier this year.

(Photo via lambmark)

First gay marriages for Mexico City

Gay couples kiss after getting married at City Hall in Mexico City, Thursday, March 11, 2010. The couples wed under Latin America’s first law that explicitly approves gay marriage.

Although a male gay couple were married in Argentina in January, Mexico City is the first place in Latin America to pass a law explicitly recognizing gay marriage.

It was passed in December of last year and gives gay and lesbian couples the same rights to marry, adopt children, secure loans, benefit from their partner’s insurance policies and inherit without paying tax.