Uruguay to Allow Civil Unions

Uruguay will
become the first country in Latin America to allow gay and
lesbian couples to engage in civil unions nationwide as a
result of legislation passed Thursday.

Though
the senate has already approved the measure, revisions
made to the bill since then require review by the
senate, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The legislation
would grant same-sex couples the same social security,
pension, inheritance, and parenting rights that heterosexual
couples enjoy, though civil unions will not be called
marriage.

Edgardo Ortuno, a
member of the center-left ruling party, said the law
could take effect as early as mid December.

“This
recognition of the legal status of couples ... recognizes
the legal status of homosexual couples, which gives it
a completely new dimension,” Ortuno said to the
Union-Tribune. (The Advocate)