Peru to get civil unions?

The lead presidential candidate in Peruvian elections due in April has promised to create gender-neutral civil unions to recognise same-sex couples if he comes to power.

Alejandro Toledo and his Possible Peru Party currently lead the polls, and his campaign manager told the El Comercio newspaper that recognising non-heterosexual relationships was “a question of principles”.

“It aims to recognise the full civil rights of citizens and to be a step, among others, to achieve social inclusion of all Peruvians,” he said.

Toledo was previously president of Peru from 2001 to 2006.

The pledge was immediately attacked by the Catholic Church in Peru, with the Arch-bishop of Lima stating that parties in the election who were supporting civil unions were only doing so to win “three more votes”. He claimed that recognising same-sex relationships went “against the natural law”.

Another party, Social Force, is promising to legalise same-sex marriage, but on current polling seems unlikely to win seats in the parliament.