Uruguay stands up for gay's rights

Uruguay is on its way to become the next country to allow same-sex civil unions. The law has already cleared the Senate and its passage in the lower house of Parliament is almost certain:

URUGUAY'S Congress will pass a law to legalise gay and heterosexual civil unions, granting those couples the same rights as married ones, a ruling party Senator said today.

The Senate already passed the Bill, and Senator Margarita Percovich told Reuters the lower house is expected to approve it easily given the governing leftist coalition's majority.

The legislation will allow gay and straight couples to form civil unions after living together for at least five years.
[...]
"If there is recognition (of the partnership), it's as though it were a marriage," she said.

The law would ensure inheritance rights for couples in civil unions and offer other advantages such as shared parental rights and pension benefits. [...]
The Argentine capital of Buenos Aires legalised same-sex unions in 2002, in a move hailed as a first in Latin America.

Great news. Uruguay could become a beacon of hope for gays and lesbians in South America, and its example might be followed by other countries in the future.