Written by Staff Writer by Tina Abetkov, CNN
Marriage equality came one step closer for same-sex couples in Chile on Thursday, when the country’s Congress voted to legalize it.
The 55-22 vote was met with wild celebrations in the country’s capital Santiago as thousands of people poured into the streets to celebrate.
“This shows that the country is going toward equality,” Elisa Di Rosa, 30, told CNN. “I just feel so happy.”
The law passed in Chile’s Congress in Santiago on June 22, 2018. Credit: Maria Sepulveda/AFP/Getty Images
“Now, it’s the same for anyone, and it’s absolutely normal to have two men, two women, men or women as a family,” she said.
Until now, gay, lesbian and bisexual couples in Chile have been barred from officially registering their unions, but a referendum in May demanded a change. This sparked a heated debate at the country’s Congress.
Gay marriage opponents during an event in Temuco, Chile, on March 25, 2018. Credit: Thiago Barreto/AFP/Getty Images
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Argentina last year, and Uruguay two years before that.
Same-sex marriage became law in Brazil in 2013, followed by Colombia and in the United States in 2015.