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.)