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Argentina's Senate passes historic same-sex marriage bill
Yesterday, the Argentinean Senate approved a bill that would grant their gay and lesbian countrymen the right to marry. Much like here in the U.S., the issue was marked by a strong division between gay rights advocates and traditional marriage supporters. Gay rights supporters prevailed with a 33-27 majority, with three of the Senate's members not exercising their voting power.
Debate on the bill required 14 hours in session before the Senate came to a final vote. Outside the halls of the Senate, hundreds of gay marriage supporters waited hours to hear the decision. Slightly after 4:00 AM, the 37-degree weather was suddenly not so cold when news of the bill's passing warmed the hearts of the hundreds waiting.
While the bill has passed in the Senate, it is not official Argentinean law until signed by President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner. A strong gay rights advocate, President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner plans to sign the bill quickly.