Colombia the latest Latin American country to have marriage equality

Colombia the latest Latin American country to have marriage equality
Image: Colombia is the latest country to have marriage equality. Picture: Diego Cambiaso/Flickr.

COLOMBIA’S constitutional court has ruled in favour of marriage equality overnight after its national parliament first rejected it in 2013.

The favourable ruling came about after five delays since the case was brought to the Constitutional Court in August last year, making Colombia the fourth Latin American country to embrace marriage equality.

 Interior Minister Juan Fernand Cristo confirmed in May last year that the leading party, the National Unity Coalition, has been determined to make marriage equality a reality.

“The government supports the fight for equality and we will adopt measures providing equal marriage rights for all,” Cristo said at the time.

“Respect for equal rights is not optional.”

Despite his comments, a recent study in the capital Bogotá found that 70 per cent residents were against gay couples’ right to adopt, while 57 per cent were not approving of marriage equality.

The introduction of marriage equality comes after Colombia began to legally recognise same-sex unions in 2011 thanks to a Constitutional Court ruling at the time, which also ordered Colombian Congress to pass a law to afford same-sex couples equal rights as married heterosexual couples.

In addition, last November the ban on adoption for prospective same-sex parents was lifted. 

Brian Silver, director of Marriage Equality USA, welcomed the news from Colombia.

 “(The ruling) is great for the Colombian people but even greater for people around the world still fighting for marriage equality,” he said.

Other countries in Latin America that also have marriage equality are Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. There have been several court rulings in favour of marriage equality in some Mexican states, but a national precedent or legislation has not yet been set.

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6 responses to “Colombia the latest Latin American country to have marriage equality”

  1. The Supreme Court ruling in Mexico last year is perhaps worth noting on the bit on national legal precedents in that country for same sex marriage.

  2. What is wrong with my country Australia!? Congratulations Columbia on marriage equality. Simon you are a complete moron, just like both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull on old fashioned stereotypes! My own sister-in-law who lives in Wollongong is from Columbia and it is a lovely country! Both Australia and Northern Ireland still for some stupid reason, does not allow marriage equality as of April 2016!

  3. Why to associate Cocaine with this beautiful country? Go an educate yourself not all Colombians are drug dealers, what a moron

  4. @Simon – Cocaine Colombia ? What does cocaine have to do with anything? Why do you feel the need to diminish the whole country, it’s people and this great achievement by associating it with cocaine trade? What an ignorant and insulting comment.

  5. Wow now cocaine Columbia is ahead of Australia! Never thought that would happen hey? The Vatican must be secretly controlling Australia!

    • You are a total wanker just like the ACL, Jim Wallace, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull!