Uruguay Approves Adoption by Gays

By Julie Bolcer

Lawmakers in Uruguay voted to extend adoption rights to gay couples on Wednesday, making the country the first in Latin America to approve adoption by same-sex couples.

The measure, which also would give adoption rights to unmarried couples, now heads to President Tabaré Vázquez for his signature, according to Reuters.

Currently, gay people can adopt under Uruguayan law, but only as individuals and not as couples. While gay marriage remains illegal, civil unions for same-sex couples are legal in the country.

Adoption rights for gay couples in Uruguay arrive on the heels of a decision earlier this year to allow gay people to serve in the military.

Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, which is highly influential in Latin American politics, opposed the new law.

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Luke
Date posted: 9/10/2009 4:05:57 PM
Hometown: Manaus

Comment:
It's a shame that in other smaller democracies, with far less resources and organized people, they are doing major advances in such areas than in the USA. In Brazil for instance, GLBT can sponsor their partners visa, insure pension and health benefits and now the supreme court is going to mandate recognition of civil unions (majority of justices are know as favorable). The federal government is pro-gay and despite of faith based opposition congress is very liberal. Why can't you guys fight harder to get what need? All that I can see is all these ONG's begging for money..donations!!!...is all that it takes? IDTS!
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Ginelle
Date posted: 9/10/2009 3:44:30 PM
Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

Comment:
This, in spite of the expected opposition from the Roman Catholic Church who continue to remain less then apologetic for all the pain and suffering they have caused their victims in orphanages and at the hands of their pedophile priests! Excellent stuff that the Government of Uruguay has denied the Church any say in the matter and opted instead to be fair minded and rule on the side of equality. Most definitely a lesson for Washington and one of the most powerful democracys on earth to take note of and repeal such insane legislation as DOMA and DADT. Must the United States of America be shamed into providing full equality under the Constitution for all of it's citizens by much smaller and less powerful countries such as Uruguay, South Africa, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and Canada?
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Chris Sullivan
Date posted: 9/10/2009 3:37:52 PM
Hometown: Chicago, Il

Comment:
Amazing - countries like Uruguay can have gay adoption laws... but back here in the good 'ol Divided States of America (a creation of the Repugnicant Party) - we are fighting tooth and nail just to keep domestic partnership laws. This only goes to show you the profound destructive pwer of religious institutions. I hope the GLBT community wakes up and starts to realy take action - because we are losing ground.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Joe
Date posted: 9/10/2009 3:13:01 PM
Hometown: Fort Worth

Comment:
The "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" should learn some lessons from little Uruguay. If El Presidente signs the bill, which looks like it, Uruguay will not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in adoption, but the military as well. And, although not equal to marriage, at least same-sex couples there can enter into civil unions. This all despite opposition by the Catholic Church. Imagine if the land of the separation of church & state didn't kow tow to so-called "religious people."

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

Don't Miss

Commentary Op-ed: Disliking Us Is No Longer a Legal Rationale

What the appeals court judges said in their ruling on Proposition 8’s constitutionality will have far-reaching consequences, and that has our opponents freaking out.

Television World’s First Openly Gay Royal Is on Fairy Tale Search for Love
India's gay Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was burned in effigy when he surprised his countrymen and came out. Now he's going undercover to find love on a new reality show on TLC.

News Features Filmmakers Work for Marriage Equality
Instead of the typical campaign commercials advocating against antigay ballot initiatives like North Carolina's Amendment 1, Working Films is going deeper to show how these laws harm families.

Commentary Op-ed: Why We Are Fighting Meth

The executive producers for the Hollywood Rush witnessed a friend’s struggle with the drug and are trying to do something about it.

Music The Advocate Editors' Personal Madonna Moments
In honor of our March cover subject, we're sharing our own Madonna recollections, including getting nearly trampled by her fans and receiving correspondence from the lady herself.

Commentary Advice: Two Weddings, Two Sets of Gifts?
One groom-to-be asks what to do if you've already been married once before, but not "gay-married." Is it taboo to ask friends for wedding gifts again?

Television Housewives' Kyle Loves You, But Hands Off Her Mauricio
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards tells us about fending off gay advances toward her husband and receiving come-ons from lesbians.

News Quinn to Christie: Stop “Playing Games” With Marriage
New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn said that Gov. Chris Christie appears to be playing a “political game” with his call for a marriage equality referendum in New Jersey.

News Prop. 8 Recordings Could Still Be Made Public ... in 2020
Court rules mandate that documents filed under seal become public 10 years after a decision in the case — unless a legal party shows “good cause” as to why they should remain out of the public’s hands.

Best of Broadway Smash: Why You Will Love It
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, two of the producers of NBC’s new critically acclaimed musical series, explain why the backstage drama of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe has mass appeal and why big stars like Anjelica Huston, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Nick Jonas were eager to appear in it.

Best of Broadway The Advocate Staff Remembers: Best of Broadway
The staff of The Advocate turns back the pages of time and shares their favorite Broadway memories. We asked for yours earlier so it only seemed fair that we share, too.

Best of Broadway Sometimes a Hat Makes a Big Difference
Who has the best Easter bonnet? It's just another of the unexpected ways that Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money for the cause.

News Psychedelic Queen of Pop (Art)
The March 2012 issue of The Advocate kicks off our 45th anniversary by paying homage to its birth year, 1967.

Best of Broadway Dressing Felicia: Priscilla's Costume Designer Talks Shop
Costume designer Tim Chappel shares private sketches with The Advocate of his work on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and gives the behind-the-scenes scoop on that flip-flop dress.

Best of Broadway How Broadway Does a Flea Market
Find out why actress Kathleen Chalfant calls the annual Flea Market and Grand Auction in Times Square "the most glamorous flea market you've ever seen." It raised half a million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS.

Best of Broadway Especially for You, It All Goes Backwards on Broadway
Here's your chance to hear the best of Broadway sung with you in mind at the annual Broadway Backwards event.

Best of Broadway You Picked: Broadway's Best Moments
We asked for your most loved and loathed moments from the Broadway stage. Here are eight of our reader's favorite musical moments, plus two that were not so well received.

Best of Broadway Top 10: Broadway's Best Cast Albums Ever
Our managing editor throws down with his list of the best Broadway musical albums of all time. Disagree? You'll have your chance, too.

Travel Gayest Cities in America, 2012
It's no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we've even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn't that list.

Business Best Companies List: Who Is on Your Side?
The Human Rights Campaign released its newly updated Corporate Equality Index today. Here's the complete list of companies that scored 100% for being LGBT-friendly.