Uruguay May Repeal Gay Military Ban

Andrew Harmon

While the Obama administration grapples with its stated intent to repeal the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, Uruguay has moved one step ahead.

The Uruguay defense ministry confirmed on Wednesday that minister of national defense Jose Bayardi (pictured) has signed a decree lifting a ban on gays serving in the nation's armed forces. President Tabaré Vázquez has yet to sign the decree.

The ban, which barred people with "open sexual deviations" from attending military academies and said gays were not suited to the armed forces, has been in place since a military coup in 1973, according to the Associated Press.

In 2007, Vázquez signed a congressional bill granting civil unions to same-sex couples who have been living together for at least five years, making Uruguay the first Latin American country to legalize civil unions for gays and lesbians.

Gay marriage remains illegal throughout most of South America, though some countries, such as Ecuador, have moved to adopt similar protections for same-sex couples.

In January, Colombia's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples must be granted rights identical to those of heterosexual couples with common-law marriages.

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Back to top
Name: Dallas
Date posted: 5/15/2009 12:22:00 PM
Hometown: Wilson, NC

Comment:
Maybe it is time to organize a MILLION PEOPLE march on Washington!
Back to top
Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 5/15/2009 10:33:00 AM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:
Hats off to Uruguay! They seem to be quite the LGBT 'pioneer' in Latin America. This comes as no small surprise; given the enormous sway enjoyed by the Catholic church in these areas. It goes to show we ARE on the march, world-wide and it puts one more nail in the 'coffin' of anti-gay bigotry. We live in stirring times. A nice letter of thanks and support to the Uruguayan Ambassador would certainly be well received. I'm writing one!

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