Same-sex marriage in Uruguay

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Uruguay since August 5, 2013. The Chamber of Representatives passed a bill for legalization on December 12, 2012, with a vote of 81–6. The Senate approved the bill with minor amendments on April 2, 2013, in a vote of 23–8. The amended bill was subsequently passed by the Chamber of Representatives on April 10 with a vote of 71–21, and was signed into law by President José Mujica on May 3. It took effect on August 5. Polling indicates that a majority of Uruguayans support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Uruguay was the third country in South America, after Argentina and Brazil, and the fourteenth in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

On January 20, 2008, Uruguay became the first Latin American country to enact a national civil union law. Civil unions provide same-sex couples with several, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage.

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