Argentina Passes Gay Marriage Bill

Don't cry for me Argentina. Soon it will be our time to have the gay marriage. I still hope Lula can have it done before the elections... I can see the gay marriage moving north towards us, we where not the first but i don't think we'll be the last. Agora é o nosso momento. A comunidade tem de se organizar e lutar pelos nossos direitos.

We are really proud to continue our tradition of leadership in terms of civil rights: our country abolished slavery in 1813, authorized feminine suffrage in 1947 and since July 15th extended the civil marriage not only to men and women born in Argentina but also to foreign residents. Besides, gay and lesbian people already could adopt children but now gay and lesbian couples will be able too. We are really happy and proud of LGBT leaders, representatives, friends, families and all the people who supported this bill!

THANK YOU, ARGENTINA, FOR RECOGNIZING HUMAN RIGHTS! The United States should hang their head in shame! All people who believe in human rights issues should vacation in Argentina! The U.S. supports the position of fundamentalist, backwards, and ignorant people!

4 days after that historic day, I can't really describe how happy and proud I am and how different it feels to walk down exactly the same streets of Buenos Aires that I walked for 33 years. Now I feel Im in a new city, in a new country, where Im not a shadow or somebody else's object of discrimination, anger and threat. I am now protected by law, recognized by the constitution, it is not a dream, it's real: I am real. My country just told me: "Tomas, for me, you exist". I feel complete. I feel joy and tears roll down by face at least once a day, but a smile comes right after it, saying thanks to all the fierce gays and lesbians who made this possible, but also to an unmeasurable number of straight people who made this happen. From the representatives and Senators (who offered inspiring, brave, witty and thougthful speeches) to all my straight friends who were as happy as I was/am because they understood from this moment on, we are a better (and more colorful) society.

4 days after that historic day, I can't really describe how happy and proud I am and how different it feels to walk down exactly the same streets of Buenos Aires that I walked for 33 years. Now I feel Im in a new city, in a new country, where Im not a shadow or somebody else's object of discrimination, anger and threat. I am now protected by law, recognized by the constitution, it is not a dream, it's real: I am real. My country just told me: "Tomas, for me, you exist". I feel complete. I feel joy and tears roll down by face at least once a day, but a smile comes right after it, saying thanks to all the fierce gays and lesbians who made this possible, but also to an unmeasurable number of straight people who made this happen. From the representatives and Senators (who offered inspiring, brave, witty and thougthful speeches) to all my straight friends who were as happy as I was/am because they understood from this moment on, we are a better (and more colorful) society.

BTW I'm not saying I agree with the UK's policy, just correcting a poster who said the UK had Civil Unions with limited rights. They don't.

Actually UK Civil Partnerships are identical to marriage in all rights across all levels of government: pensions, inheritance immigration, medical decisions and next-of-kin status. Maybe because they got everything from the get-go they feel there's less emphasis on the word. Some straight people are campaigning for the right to CP!

Can any of you guys remember a time when the US was the leader in terms of Civil Rights? Shame on you, Obama. SHAME!

24hs after the historical moment I can tell you it has been a glorious day. Walking by the streets of Buenos Aires has been different to previous days. Somehow, looking at my people, I noticed we —the citizens of Argentina— are no longer the same ones. I can't wipe off the smile of my face thinking of the babies born today. They will live their whole life in a country with equal rights.

Yeah Joe, you're right! These ARE the last days. So don't waste any time. Quit school, your job, whatever it is you're doing. There's no point continuing that now, since there's only these last days left! Start praying like crazy. And you might as well run up your credit cards too, spend it all helping the poor or something. No sense letting these last days go to waste! praise jeebus!