Colombia one step closer to legalising same-sex marriage

Colombia has taken a major step towards legalising same-sex marriage, with its constitutional court voting on the matter yesterday, in a decision praised by the gay community.

Six of the nine court justices dismissed a petition that called for the denial of equal marriage rights for heterosexual and homosexual couples, paving the way for the largely Catholic country to join Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in Latin America in blazing a trail for gay marriage.

“It's almost a fact that equal marriage will be approved, but it is not accurate to say that it is valid from today," said a source outside Colombia’s highest court.

That legitimacy will come when a court judge puts yesterday’s decision in writing - which appears merely a formality.

A previous constitutional court ruling recognized same-sex couples as families and ordered Congress to pass a law that would afford gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples.

But when a 2013 deadline for lawmakers passed, gay couples could by default formalise their unions before notaries and judges, although it was a grey area and the court's language was vague.

Activists in the gay community gathered outside the court in Bogota's historic centre to celebrate the announcement, waving flags.

In July 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage, followed by Uruguay.

Brazil has de facto authorised same-sex marriage since May 2013.