Noticias

After 15 hours of intense debate, with 33 votes in favour and 27 against, the Equal Marriage Law was passed. The lack of argumentations, sustained by the senators that voted against the equal marriage law (and in favour of civil union), demonstrates the crushing defeat of the fundamentalist speeches. The violence of the religious groups arrived at the Plaza de Mayo, in front of the Argentine Congress, to provoke the protesters, did not dampen the joy of all of those who were supporting the modification of the law.
The INADI (National Institute against Discrimination, in Argentina) also installed an escenary where several activists and cultural referents, social and political movements were able to express their opinions and points of view. The following were also able to share with the protesters their art and music: Liniers, Kevin Johansen, Denise Murz and many others.
Pedro Paradiso Sottile, Regional Secretary of ILGA for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that "The importance of the equal marriage law is also for the society, because it comes to life and gives sense to the principle of equality that shows diversity. This is as well a great point of departure for debates on equality across Latin America and the Caribbean, where there is a strong intention to impose a unique model of family that hinders the great human diversity and richness".
The approval of the marriage equality law is a milestone in the conquer of civil rights, specially for minorities in Latin America.
On the other hand, Amnesty International (AI) called the rest of Latin American countries to join the decision of Argentina to legalize gay marriage. "Now it is up to the rest of the countries to follow their example", said Louise Finer, from AI, according to a statement released by the organization in Buenos Aires, as a salute to the approval of same sex marriage voted by the argentine Senate.
SOMOSGAY, along with the organizations that work in favour of human rights and important politics from several political parties, is working in the new bill on Equal Civil Marriage that will soon be presented at the paraguayan parliament. The paraguayan catholic church has started a strong disinformation campaign, supported by some of the members of the paraguayan media, promoting the rejection of the bill, based on religious arguments and mixing this with the rejection of adoption for homosexual people; being this the topic, adoption, it is totally independent of the approval or not of equal marriage, also putting into consideration that as of today homosexuals can adopt. In fact, there are known cases, in the capital and other cities, that have adopted children years ago and that these kids have been part of the society without problems.
SOMOSGAY will continue to work on the construction of an open and democratic debate that will take us finally to the eradication of homophobia in Paraguay and in this context will continue to be leader in the fight of legal and social equality to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in Paraguay.