Argentina made history on July 15, 2010, by becoming the first Latin American nation to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. This landmark achievement was the culmination of years of tireless advocacy by LGBTQ+ movements, legal challenges, and a shifting public opinion.
The debate in Argentina’s Congress was intense, marked by strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups. However, proponents framed marriage equality not just as a matter of LGBTQ+ rights but as a fundamental human right and an advancement for democratic citizenship, resonating deeply in a country with a history of human rights struggles.
The Senate ultimately passed the bill by a narrow margin of 33 to 27), and President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner swiftly signed it into law. This pivotal moment positioned Argentina at the forefront of human rights in the region and the world, inspiring similar legislative efforts across Latin America and beyond, affirming that love and equality should know no legal bounds.
There are currently 7 Spanish-speaking countries with marriage equality, and 38 countries in total have marriage equality. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to have marriage equality. The United States became a country with nationwide marriage equality in 2015, 14 years after the Netherlands and 5 years after Argentina.
