Chile's President Backs Civil Unions Bill

The conservative president of Chile made the case Tuesday for legalizing civil unions for gay and straight couples in the Latin American country.

President Sebastian Pinera signed a proposal for the law and sent it to Congress. He said that 2 million people in Chile live together but are not in a formal marriage.

"All forms of marriage deserve respect, dignity, and the support of the state," he said, according to the Agence France-Presse. Pinera still opposes marriage equality but he said his beliefs do not prevent him "from recognizing that other forms of affective relationships exist."

Pinera's stance is a big change for the country, which did not recognize divorces until 2004.