The First Latin American Country to Legalize Gay Adoption

categories: International Gay Rights, LGBT Adoption, Religion and LGBT Rights

Published September 10, 2009 @ 03:15AM PT

Uruguay Uruguay took a bold step forward for LGBT rights, by becoming the first Latin American country to legalize adoption by gay and lesbian parents. The country also took a bold stand against the Catholic Church, which fought hard to prevent gays and lesbians from receiving parenting rights.

Seventeen Uruguayan Senators voted for the bill legalizing adoption for gays and lesbians, which earlier passed a lower House in Uruguay's legislature. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Uruguay's President, Tabare Vazquez.

One of the best reasons for passing this bill came from ruling party Sen. Margarita Percovich. "Whether the couple is gay or not should not be a matter of consideration," said Percovich. "What matters is if the family is able to educate and stimulate the child to grow as a fulfilled human being."

Damn, if only she could run for office in Arkansas (which in 2008 banned adoption by gay and lesbian people).

The Catholic Church in Uruguay, not missing a beat to say something homophobic, said that gay adoption contradicts human nature. The Archbishop of Montevideo expressed sadness that the bill passed.

But while the Catholic Church expresses sadness, kids up for adoption can take comfort in the fact that even more qualified parents are now legally able to raise children in Uruguay.

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Comments (3)

So much for America leading the free world, eh?

Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 09/10/2009 @ 12:59PM PT
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The Uruguay legislature has done the correct thing by passing a bill which would legalize adoption by LGBT couples, and with the final step being that the President has to sign it into law. The Catholic Church is too homophobic to understand that children in foster care need parents who will nurture them, which doesn't depend on one's sexual orientation. With this step, Argentina might also legalize adoption of children by LGBT couples to provide a good family for.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 09/10/2009 @ 02:37PM PT
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Love cannot be wrong no matter where it's coming from, Hurrah for Uruguay! And I was loosing faith in the hearts of man!

Posted by Mario Sabattini on 11/14/2009 @ 09:00PM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.