In yet another embarrassing example of the sad fact that the United States no longer is the leader in religious freedom and equal protection of its citizens, the Supreme Court of Columbia - viewed, I'm sure as a banana republic drug haven by most Republicans - has directed the Columbia Congress to either enact same sex marriage within the next two (2) years or else the Court will intervene. Here in the USA, special deference to and the enshrining of Christianist religious beliefs in the civil laws still reigns supreme in a majority of states - a form of religious based bigotry that has been nationalized through the federal defense of Marriage Act. Here are highlights from Columbia Reports:*
Colombia's Supreme Court called on legislators Tuesday to pass gay marriage legislation within two years. The court ruled that homosexual partners currently lack certain rights afforded to heterosexual partners and instructed Congress to pass a remedy through "comprehensive, systematic, and orderly legislation" by June 20, 2013 to address the imbalance. If Congress does not pass legislation in that time, homosexual couples will be permitted to go before a notary or a court to have their partnership recognized.
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Colombian congressmen appear to remain split on the issue. Juan Manuel Corzo, the conservative chairman of the Senate said that "the constitution is clear in arguing that marriage is between a man and a woman, not same-sex."
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However, Rafael Prado, the director of the Liberal Party, responded to the ruling by saying, "the church is the church, but political decisions and rights are issues that we in politics have an obligation to address. We defend those rights and it is clear that same-sex couples should have equal (rights)."
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