Bolivia Senator Hilda Saavedra earlier
this week introduced a bill which would legalize civil marriage for
gay and lesbian couples in the South American country.
Saavedra, a member of the ruling
Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) Party, said her proposal aims to aid
victims of “contempt, abuse and exclusion even by the family.”
She said her bill seeks to uphold the spirit of the Bolivia
Constitution.
“There are many people who have not
disclosed their sexual orientation because they fear the
discrimination that exists in our country by some conservatives who
do not want to recognize the rights of this population so important
in Bolivia,” said
Saavedra.
Three years ago, Bolivians approved a
new constitution which prohibits discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity, while defining marriage as a
heterosexual union. It also outlined broad new rights for indigenous
Bolivians.
David Aruquipa, the leader of LGBT en
Bolivia, said he was encouraged that a MAS senator was backing the
measure, noting that the party has previously rejected their
overtures.
Bolivian neighbor Argentina was the
first South American nation to legalize gay marriage. Its other four
neighbors – Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Brazil – have also
considered giving legal recognition to the relationships of gay
couples.
(Related: San
Paulo celebrates first gay marriage.)