This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8433240.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gay couple marries in Argentina | Gay couple marries in Argentina |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two Argentine men have become the first same-sex couple to marry legally in Latin America. | Two Argentine men have become the first same-sex couple to marry legally in Latin America. |
| Alejandro Freyre, 39, and Jose Maria Di Bello, 41, tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the southern city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego province. | Alejandro Freyre, 39, and Jose Maria Di Bello, 41, tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the southern city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego province. |
| Gay marriage is illegal in Argentina. However, the Tierra del Fuego governor issued a special decree allowing the couple to wed there. | Gay marriage is illegal in Argentina. However, the Tierra del Fuego governor issued a special decree allowing the couple to wed there. |
| Roman Catholic leaders in the country expressed alarm at the move. | Roman Catholic leaders in the country expressed alarm at the move. |
| A judge in the capital, Buenos Aires, prevented the couple from marrying there earlier this month. | A judge in the capital, Buenos Aires, prevented the couple from marrying there earlier this month. |
| Church anger | Church anger |
| The men, who are both HIV-positive, had planned to get married on 1 December, World Aids day. | The men, who are both HIV-positive, had planned to get married on 1 December, World Aids day. |
| They eventually travelled to Tierra del Fuego, where they received the support of provincial governor Fabiana Rios. | They eventually travelled to Tierra del Fuego, where they received the support of provincial governor Fabiana Rios. |
| Although Argentina's civil code bans gay marriage, the constitution is silent on the matter. | Although Argentina's civil code bans gay marriage, the constitution is silent on the matter. |
| Correspondents say Ms Rios exploited this grey area and gave the two men a special dispensation. | Correspondents say Ms Rios exploited this grey area and gave the two men a special dispensation. |
| She said in a statement that gay marriage was "an important advance in human rights and social inclusion". | She said in a statement that gay marriage was "an important advance in human rights and social inclusion". |
| After Monday's ceremony Mr di Bello said: "We're extremely excited and happy about what this means for all gays and lesbians in Argentina." | After Monday's ceremony Mr di Bello said: "We're extremely excited and happy about what this means for all gays and lesbians in Argentina." |
| However Bishop Juan Carlos, of the southern Argentine city of Rio Gallegos, called the marriage "an attack against the survival of the human species". | However Bishop Juan Carlos, of the southern Argentine city of Rio Gallegos, called the marriage "an attack against the survival of the human species". |
| Other Catholic leaders have argued that civil union, which is legal in four Argentine cities, should be sufficient. | Other Catholic leaders have argued that civil union, which is legal in four Argentine cities, should be sufficient. |
| The Supreme Court is expected to rule on gay marriage next year. | The Supreme Court is expected to rule on gay marriage next year. |
| Are you in Latin America? What is your reaction to the first gay marriage in the region? Do you think it should be legalised, or should the law remain as it is? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Latin America? What is your reaction to the first gay marriage in the region? Do you think it should be legalised, or should the law remain as it is? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |