CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
In Colombia a landmark gay rights bill was derailed at the last minute by a bloc of conservative senators, but supporters vowed Wednesday to revive the legislation.
The bill, which had been endorsed by conservative president Alvaro Uribe, would have made Colombia the first nation in Latin America to grant gay couples in long-term relationships the same rights to health insurance, inheritance, and social security as heterosexual couples,
Slightly different versions of the bill had been approved by Colombia's senate and house of representatives, and Tuesday's vote on the final, reconciled version was expected to be routine.
But Sen. Manuel Virguez Piraquive, from a small party closely linked to an evangelical Colombian church, called for an unusual floor vote on the bill.
Other conservative lawmakers then broke ranks with the pro-Uribe faction backing the bill, and it was defeated 34-29 in the 102-member senate. Many of the bill's supporters were absent.
The call for an individual votes was unusual, and some said it was unprecedented. Parties usually vote as blocs on the final, reconciled versions of bills in Colombia's legislature.
Sen. Armando Benedetti, a sponsor of the bill, vowed to restart the legislative process when Congress reconvenes on July 20, and he criticized Uribe for not defending the initiative more forcefully.
''He said he supported the bill during his presidential campaign, but since then he's been silent,'' Benedetti said.
Although states and cities have passed laws allowing gay couples to share assets, no other country in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic region has done so at a national level.
Colombia's constitutional court recognized similar rights to shared property and inheritance in February, but the decision did not mention health insurance or social security.
While homosexuality is still taboo in much of Latin America, there has been increasing acceptance in many areas. Mexico City and the Mexican state of Coahuila recently joined the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires and the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in legalizing same-sex civil unions.
Opponents of the measure and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church said they feared the Colombian law would open the way to same-sex marriage and adoption by gays. (Joshua Goodman, AP)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Check out the lesbian wedding at the center of 'Anyone But You'
March 16 2024 12:41 PM
This women’s roller derby league is standing up for trans athletes by suing their county
March 16 2024 12:29 PM
Oprah, Niecy Nash-Betts, Out win big at GLAAD awards
March 15 2024 7:28 PM
Pence says he ‘cannot in good conscience’ endorse Trump
March 15 2024 6:03 PM