Argentina Considers Same-Sex Marriage

In yet another instance that demonstrates that the promises of liberty and justice here in the USA are false and not in keeping with the nation's founding documents, now Argentina's Congress is about to consider allowing same sex marriage in that country. Meanwhile, the USA cannot even get an employment non-discrimination bill through Congress that would prevent the summary firing of GLBT employees in the majority of states that still do not protect their GLBT citizens from discrimination. Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, already allows civil unions between same sex couples. As is all too typical, the leading opponent of full civil legal equality for GLBT couples is the scandal ridden and morally bankrupt Roman Catholic Church. which seems to hope that by condemning gays it can divert attention from the Church's moral failings. Here are some highlights from Google News:

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Is Argentina ready to become Latin America's first nation to legalize gay marriage? Gay and lesbian activists think so — and they have a growing number of supporters in Congress, which opened debate Thursday on whether to change dozens of laws that define marriage as a union between a "man and woman."
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It remains to be seen whether they have enough votes to overcome opposition from religious groups. The Roman Catholic Church remains a driving force in Argentina, where presidents were required to be both married and Catholic until a 1994 reform. Some Catholic and evangelical Christian groups have accused the government of trying to subvert the natural order of life, promote perversions and destroy the family as an institution. "This should not be understood as the denial of anyone's rights," said Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe, who took a gentler tone in a recent radio address. "It's possible both to be progressive and to defend the family, founded on the institution of marriage."
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Argentina's capital established its gay-friendly reputation in 2002 by becoming the first Latin American city to legalize same-sex civil unions. Four other Argentine cities later did the same, and such unions also now are recognized in Mexico City and some Mexican and Brazilian states. Uruguay alone has legalized civil unions nationwide.
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"The opinion of religious leaders who dictate how other people should lead their lives should apply only to those who share their creed, and not to the rest of society," Rachid said during an interview with Castro in the Buenos Aires apartment they share with their dog, Lola. "We don't need a law to define us as a couple — we've already been a couple for more than 10 years," Castro added. "We just want to have equal rights." If the law passes, they plan to be first in line for a marriage license.

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Truth be told, the sooner that the religious beliefs of a particular religious faction are totally removed from the civil laws - both in the USA and in other countries - the sooner true democracy and religious freedom will be achieved. Like it or not, the Christianists and Catholic clerics who seek to impose their beliefs on all of society are really no different that the Taliban and Islamic Extremists.