Argentine Judges Rules for Gay Marriage

An Argentine judge ruled this week that a same-sex couple may marry, a decision that could advance a marriage equality bill stalled in the congress.

The ruling from Judge Gabriela Seijas in Buenos Aires likely makes Alex Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello the first same-sex couple to be allowed to marry in Argentina, according to Reuters.

"The law should treat everyone with the same respect according to their singularities, without the need to understand or regulate them," said Seijas in her ruling, reported Reuters.

The ruling could be overturned by authorities in Buenos Aires, which in 2002 became the first city in the region to approve civil unions for same-sex couples.

According to Reuters, the new ruling could influence lawmakers, who remain deadlocked on a pending marriage equality bill.

UPDATE: Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri said on Friday following the ruling, that he supports gay marriage, and that the city government would not move to overturn the ruling because he wants to "improve the liberties of citizens."

"This is an important step, because we must learn how to live in freedom without hurting the rights of others," he said in a statement. "We must cohabit and accept this reality. The world is heading toward that direction."