Civil unions in Uruguay
Encyclopedia
On January 1, 2008, Uruguay
became the first Latin American country to have a national civil union
law, titled Ley de Unión Concubinaria.
The bill for legalization, proposed by Senator Margarita Percovich of the Broad Front
, was passed in Chamber of Deputies on 29 November 2007 after having been passed in a similar form in the Senate in 2006. The bill was passed by both chambers in the same form on December 19 and signed into law by president Tabaré Vázquez
on December 27. It came into effect on 1 January 2008.
Following the approval of a bill both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are allowed to enter into a civil union
(unión concubinaria) after they live together for at least five years, and will be entitled to most of the benefits that married couples are afforded, including social security entitlements, inheritance rights and joint ownership of goods and property.
A government-backed bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt children was discussed in the national parliament in the spring of 2008. The bill has been approved by both the Senate and the House of Deputies. Thus, same-sex couples can jointly adopt in Uruguay, a first for South America.
it would introduce a same-sex marriage bill. In October the Broad Front won an absolute majority in both chambers and José Mujica
, the Broad Front presidential candidate, won the presidential election on November 29, 2009. In July 2010 legislators of the ruling party Broad Front announced they're planning to submit the bill that would allow same-sex marriage. On July 25, 2010, former president Julio María Sanguinetti of the Colorado Party
declared his support for legalization of same-sex marriage. Other former president and incumbent senator Luis Alberto Lacalle
of the National Party
said that he is opposed.
In April 2011, Sebastián Sabini, a legislator of the Movement of Popular Participation
, one of the parties consisting the Broad Front, presented the bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. The bill was formally submitted to the parliament on September 6, 2011.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
became the first Latin American country to have a national civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
law, titled Ley de Unión Concubinaria.
The bill for legalization, proposed by Senator Margarita Percovich of the Broad Front
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
, was passed in Chamber of Deputies on 29 November 2007 after having been passed in a similar form in the Senate in 2006. The bill was passed by both chambers in the same form on December 19 and signed into law by president Tabaré Vázquez
Tabaré Vázquez
Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas is a former President of Uruguay. A physician by training, he is a member of the leftist Frente Amplo coalition . Vázquez was elected president on October 31, 2004, took office on March 1, 2005, and relinquished the office on March 1, 2010...
on December 27. It came into effect on 1 January 2008.
Following the approval of a bill both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are allowed to enter into a civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
(unión concubinaria) after they live together for at least five years, and will be entitled to most of the benefits that married couples are afforded, including social security entitlements, inheritance rights and joint ownership of goods and property.
A government-backed bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt children was discussed in the national parliament in the spring of 2008. The bill has been approved by both the Senate and the House of Deputies. Thus, same-sex couples can jointly adopt in Uruguay, a first for South America.
Same-sex marriage
On May 25, 2009 Senator Percovich said if Broad Front won the national elections in October 2009Uruguayan general election, 2009
General elections for President and Parliament took place in Uruguay on 25 October and 29 November 2009. In parliamentary election results, the Broad Front emerged the winner, electing 16 senators and 50 deputies, while the National Party elected 9 senators and 30 deputies, the Colorado Party 5...
it would introduce a same-sex marriage bill. In October the Broad Front won an absolute majority in both chambers and José Mujica
José Mujica
José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano is a Uruguayan politician and former guerrilla fighter, a member of the Broad Front and current President of Uruguay....
, the Broad Front presidential candidate, won the presidential election on November 29, 2009. In July 2010 legislators of the ruling party Broad Front announced they're planning to submit the bill that would allow same-sex marriage. On July 25, 2010, former president Julio María Sanguinetti of the Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
declared his support for legalization of same-sex marriage. Other former president and incumbent senator Luis Alberto Lacalle
Luis Alberto Lacalle
Luis Alberto Lacalle de Herrera is a Uruguayan lawyer and politician who served as President of Uruguay from 1990 to 1995.-Background:His mother, María Hortensia de Herrera de Lacalle, was the daughter of the Blanco political leader Luis Alberto de Herrera, after whom Lacalle was named. Luis...
of the National Party
National Party (Uruguay)
The National Party , also known as the White Party , is a major right-wing conservative political party in Uruguay, currently the major opposition party to the ruling Frente Amplio government....
said that he is opposed.
In April 2011, Sebastián Sabini, a legislator of the Movement of Popular Participation
Movement of Popular Participation
The Movement of Popular Participation is a Uruguayan political party. It is a member organisation of the ruling left-wing party Broad Front.- Background :...
, one of the parties consisting the Broad Front, presented the bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. The bill was formally submitted to the parliament on September 6, 2011.