Bolivia recognises same-sex unions

Bolivia recognises same-sex union in historic first after gay couple took their battle for recognition to the courts. Bolivia has recognised a same-sex civil union for the first time after a gay couple took their battle for recognition to the courts.

David Aruquipa, 48, and Guido Montaño, 45, had their relationship recognised by Bolivia’s civil registry following a two year legal battle on Friday (11 December), Reuters reports.

Same-sex marriage is not yet legal in Bolivia, and the country’s constitution defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Meanwhile, efforts to legalise civil partnerships have repeatedly stalled.

Aruquipa and Montaño’s legal battle kicked off in 2018 when the Bolivian civil registry refused to recognise their union, arguing that the country did not allow same-sex marriages. Bolivia’s constitutional court ruled in July that the civil registry must recognise their relationship as a free union. The court also ruled that the country’s constitution must be interpreted in a way that lines up with human rights and equality standards.

Referencing a 2017 opinion published by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the constitutional court ruled that all rights enjoyed by opposite-sex couples should be given to same-sex couples.

Source: PinkNews

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