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)