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
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
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
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
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trump’s immunity claim
April 25 2024 4:06 PM
After a Pennsylvania school board canceled a gay actor's talk, the community fought back
April 25 2024 3:52 PM
Maine signs trans and abortion sanctuary bill into law, despite violent threats
April 25 2024 11:39 AM
Terrorist threat stops Nashville disc golf tournament with transgender player
April 25 2024 10:40 AM
Harvey Weinstein's sex crime conviction overturned in New York, new trial ordered
April 25 2024 10:27 AM
Alleged Minneapolis mass shooters charged after killing one at LGBTQ+ punk rock show
April 25 2024 10:21 AM
Gay Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic primary for auditor general
April 25 2024 7:30 AM
Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia
April 25 2024 6:30 AM
How a lesbian's triumph on the Portland Timbers billboard broke barriers
April 24 2024 4:52 PM