Thursday, July 22, 2010

Marriage Bill Signed in Buenos Aires

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has signed the bill making same sex marriage legal nationwide in Argentina. The photo shows her making remarks after signing the landmark legislation which puts Argentina far ahead of the United States in terms of the treatment of its LGBT citizens. Here in Virginia pet owners are afforded more recognition of their relationship with their pets than members of same sex couples are afforded vis-a-vis each other. It's pathetic state of affairs, but that's what one gets when the state is run by spineless legislators and religious extremists. Here are highlights from Yahoo News:
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Within the halls of the 19th-century Casa Rosada, or Pink House, Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Wednesday signed into law South America's first same-sex marriage bill.
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Hundreds crowded the streets outside Buenos Aires's Casa Rosada to show their support for the bill, which the Argentinean legislature passed on July 15. . . . The room, and a spillover room, erupted into applause following the signature and it was announced that marriage equality
was now the law of the land.
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Fernandez then spoke to the ebullient crowd. She stated that by signing this law the government is granting marriage equality to a group that deserves rights granted to them, not taken away. Change and progress are a good thing, Fernandez added, saying that once Argentina's senators debated allowing divorce. Finally, the president pointed out the symbolism of signing the bill within the Hall of Science, saying it demonstrates that enlightenment trumped suspicion and fear.
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This is how a fierce advocate acts - President Obama, are you listening?? As Andrew Sullivan correctly noted, it is sad when the rest of the world leads America in the area of the advancement of human freedom and equality. This video clip shows the elation after the signing of the bill.

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