Uruguay will allow gay adoption, a first for Latin America
Federica Narancio | McClatchy Newspaper | September 09, 2009
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguay, long-regarded as one of the most progressive countries in Latin America, set a standard for the region by allowing same-sex couples to adopt children with a bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday.While gay rights activists celebrated the passage of the bill, the Roman Catholic Church voiced its opposition, beginning with a strongly worded statement released in August by the Archbishop Nicolas Cotugno of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city.
On Wednesday following the vote, Uruguayan Bishop Pablo Galimberti of the Diocese of Salto told McClatchy that the Catholic Church had "serious objection to this law." (Ed.: Big surprise there, eh?)
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The bill was approved 17-6, with most of its support coming from legislators of the ruling leftist Frente Amplio coalition, which has a majority in Congress, and from two of the three senators of the opposition Partido Colorado. The measure passed the lower house in August and is expected to be signed into law soon.
"Whether the couple is gay or not should not be a matter of consideration," said ruling party Sen. Margarita Percovich, who sponsored the bill. "What matters is if the family is able to educate and stimulate the child to grow as a fulfilled human being."
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This is one of the most recent measures backed by the Frente Amplio government that grants equal rights to gays. In May 2009, a decree signed by president Tabare Vazquez ended a ban on gays in the military. And in 2008, civil unions for same-sex couples were legalized.
The adoption legislation allows couples in legalized civil unions to adopt regardless of their sexual orientation.
Now, if only Florida could become so enlightened.
I'm not holding my breath . . . .
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