LGBT Rights in Uruguay - Recognition of Same-sex Relationships

Recognition of Same-sex Relationships

Uruguay was the first Latin American country to legalize civil unions under national legislation. Under the legislation couples would have be together for at least five years and sign a registry. The couples will receive health benefits, inheritance, parenting and pension rights. The bill was passed in Congress on 30 November 2007 after having been passed in a similar form in the Senate earlier in February 2007; the bill was passed by both chambers in the same forum on 19 December and signed into law by president Tabaré Vázquez on 27 December. It came into effect since 1 January 2008. Following the approval of a bill, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are allowed to enter into a civil union after they live together for at least five years, and will be entitled to get some of the benefits that married couples are afforded.

In July 2010, lawmakers of the ruling Broad Front announced intension to legalize same sex marriage. In 2011, the Marriage Equality Bill got introduced to Congress and in December 2012, passed by a vote of 81-6 and still needs to be voted on in the upper house or Senate of Congress sometime in early 2013.

In June 2012, a judicial court in Uruguay recognized a foreign same-sex marriage, leaving the country in a juridical paradox in which same-sex couples can't marry in Uruguay but could marry in other countries and have their marriages recognized in the country. The ruling also stated that local laws already permit same-sex marriage, even if they don't say so, and that Uruguayans who marry overseas can go to a judge and have their marriage recognized under Uruguayan law.