Argentina Considers Same-Sex Marriage

If approved, Argentina would become the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage and only the second country in the Americas, after Canada, reports the AP.

A growing number of supporters in Argentine Congress opened debate Thursday on whether to change dozens of laws that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Some Catholic and evangelical Christian groups have accused the government of trying to threaten the natural order of life and destroy the family as an institution.

In a country of 40 million, the church wields huge influence Until 1994, the nation's president and vice president were required to be married and members of the Catholic Church.

It remains to be seen whether activists have enough votes to overcome opposition from religious groups.

"We can't expect social equality if the state is legitimizing inequality," said Maria Rachid, president of the Argentine Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Federation. "We now have the social and political context necessary to change the law."

"Claiming heterosexuality as a prerequisite for marriage is not discrimination," Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe said.

"A civil union is a link that grants certain rights, but not those available to a married couple, which only a national law can grant," the bills' co-sponsor, Rep. Vilma Ibarra, told the AP. "This is the first round in a long process, but it is already a success to have it out there."

Rachid said more than 20 lawmakers have signed on as supporters of same-sex marriage, and they believe they have enough votes in committee for a full vote in the lower house. It would then go to the Senate.

"The opinion of religious leaders who dictate how other people should lead their lives should apply only to those who share their creed, and not to the rest of society," Rachid said.

In 2002, Buenos Aires, the nation's capital and largest city, legalized civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, a first in Latin America. Four other Argentine cities followed. Uruguay is the only Latin American country to recognize gay unions.