Same-sex marriage in Colombia

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Legal status of same-sex unions
Marriage
Performed
Recognized
  1. When performed in Mexican states that have legalized same-sex marriage
  2. When performed in the Netherlands proper
  3. Marriages performed in some municipalities and recognized by the state

* Not yet in effect
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Same-sex marriage is legal in Colombia. A 6-3 ruling of the Constitutional Court of Colombia on 28 April 2016 found that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional under the Colombian Constitution. The first same-sex marriage to be performed in the country occurred on 24 May 2016.[1] The country has also recognised same-sex de facto unions since 2007.

Colombia was the fourth country in South America to allow same-sex marriage.[2]

De facto unions

On 7 February 2007 the Constitutional Court of Colombia extended several common-law marriage property and pension rights to same-sex couples.[3][4] A subsequent court decision, handed down in October 2007, extended social security and health insurance rights to same-sex couples.[5] Next, on 28 January 2009, the Constitutional Court modified 20 laws to give 42 more rights to cohabitating same-sex couples that were previously only granted to heterosexual couples (including nationality, residence permits, testimony when in jury, family-properties laws, etc.).[6][7] A final ruling took place on 13 April 2011 that extended inheritance rights to same-sex couples.[8]

A couple is regarded as a de facto union after living together for two years.[9] A union can be either registered or unregistered; both have the same status, but the registered union may provide greater convenience when accessing rights. A union can be registered through a public deed before a notary or a judge.[10]

On 26 July 2011 the Constitutional Court ruled by a 9-0 vote that it couldn't change the current definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, but also that same-sex couples have the right to form a family and ordered the Colombian Congress to pass legislation addressing this issue (whether by legalizing same-sex marriage or another marriage-like union) within a two years deadline (by June 20, 2013). If such a law is not passed until then, same-sex couples will be automatically able to register their relationship with the same solemnity as heterosexual couples do through marriage.[8][11][12]

Recognition of same-sex unions in South America
  Marriage
  Other type of partnership
  Unrecognized or unknown
  Same-sex marriage banned
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal

Civil union proposals

On 15 June 2007, the lower house of the Congress of Colombia approved a historic same-sex couples bill by a vote of 62-43,[13] and President Uribe was expected to sign the measure, which had been approved by the Colombian Senate in April. However, on June 19, a group of conservative senators broke party discipline in what is usually a routine vote on the final form of a bill and defeated the measure by 34-29 in the 102-member Senate. About 80 LGBT-rights advocates held a demonstration outside Congress the following day, protesting the bill's defeat.[14] Supporters vowed to revive the legislation.

The bill, which had been endorsed by conservative President Alvaro Uribe,[15] would have made Colombia the first nation in Latin America to grant same-sex couples in long-term relationships the same rights to health insurance, inheritance and social security as heterosexual couples.

On March 17, 2015, Senator Armando Benedetti introduced a civil union bill.[16][17][18] The bill failed as it was not debated in time. The bill was re-introduced by Senator Roy Barreras on July 30, 2015.[19][20] On the same day, Senators Benedetti and Barreras introduced the bill allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.[21][22]

Same-sex marriage

Legislative proposals

In 2011, after the Constitutional Court ruling, five bills were announced in Congress to correct the disadvantage of same-sex couples, two bills used the word "marriage", two of them created civil unions.[23]

In October 2012 Senator Armando Benedetti introduced the bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The bill initially only allowed for civil unions, but the text was changed by Benedetti.[24] President Juan Manuel Santos didn't take a position on the bill.[25] The Senate's First Committee approved the bill on December 4, 2012.[26][27] On April 24, 2013, the bill was rejected by the Senate in a 17-51 vote,[25][28] after being postponed on two different occasions. The negative outcome was expected, as the two biggest parties made a commitment to kill the bill.[25] Senator Benedetti responded to the vote calling the Colombian Congress "worthless", and stating that Senators who voted against the project wanted the country's Legislature to be like the ones of "Congo, Uganda, Bolivia and Haití".[29]

Days before the vote, Superintendent Jorge Enrique Vélez announced that if the Congress failed to pass the same-sex marriage bill before the June 20 deadline, the Minister of Justice would prepare guidelines for notaries and judges to conduct "solemn contracts" for same-sex couples.[30] On 18 April 2013, the country's Notaries Association presented their own proposal, which sought to set guidelines for the celebration of same-sex couples' "marital unions".[31][32] On June 20, notaries across the country started performing these unions; however LGBT activists advised people not to engage in those contracts because, they said, the framework for a "marital contract" did not exist in the country's laws.[33] In the following days, several couples made petitions to judges to have their relationships recognized through marriage.[34]

On July 24, 2013, a civil court judge in Bogotá declared a male same-sex couple legally married, after a ruling on July 11, 2013 accepting the petition. This was the first same-sex couple married in Colombia.[35][36]

In September 2013, two civil court judges married two same-sex couples.[37] The first marriage was challenged by a conservative group, and it was initially annulled. Nevertheless, in October a High Court (Tribunal Supremo de Bogotá) maintained the validity of that marriage.[38][39] The same-sex marriage issue will now once again come before the Constitutional Court after the country's Inspector General requested that the Court invalidate all the marriages.[40] A hearing was scheduled for 7 May 2015.[41] The hearing was postponed as some judges were not present and a new hearing open to the public happened on 30 July 2015. A verdict was to be reached before 31 August 2015.[42]

In May 2015, Colombian Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo announced the Colombian Government's support for a move to recognise same-sex marriage. He made the statement the day after a multi-country same-sex couple began an unprecedented legal battle to have their 2013 marriage (registered in Spain) recognised in Colombia.[43]

On 30 July 2015, Senator Benedetti introduced a same-sex marriage bill.[44][45][46] The Senate's First Committee started to debate the bill on 9 December 2015.[47]

Recognition of same-sex marriages performed overseas

Colombian Government agencies have been recognising same-sex marriages lawfully performed in foreign jurisdictions since March 2016. Same-sex couples married abroad will be entitled to the same visa, healthcare benefits, inheritance and pension rights as heterosexual spouses once they take a stamped marriage certificate and identification papers to the nearest designated office.[48]

Constitutional Court ruling

In March 2016, a draft of the ruling, considered to be a minority opinion of the Constitutional Court, was published by Judge Jorge Ignacio Pretelt. The draft said that marriage applies only to one man and one woman and that it was up to Congress to legalize same-sex marriage. On April 7, 2016, the Court voted 6-3 against the proposal.[49][50] Judge Alberto Rojas Río was assigned to prepare new proposal, which is expected to be in line with the court majority's view (i.e. to declare that prohibiting same-sex couples from getting married is unconstitutional).[51][52][53][54] The Court announced its decision on 28 April 2016, ruling by a 6-3 margin that "marriage between people of the same sex does not violate the constitutional order."[55] The ruling established that every 'solemn contract' entered into by same-sex couples since June 20, 2013 (under the provisions of the court's previous ruling in the C-577/2011 case) is legally valid and to be recognised as a marriage, meaning that couples who have entered into such unions since June 20, 2013 need not remarry as a result of the court's April 2016 ruling.[56][57][58]

Presiding Judge Maria Victoria Calle told the court; "all people are free to choose independently to start a family in keeping with their sexual orientation... receiving equal treatment under the constitution and the law." The court's ruling informed state judges, notaries and clerks that they "must ensure that citizens' fundamental rights are observed and that they are all granted equal treatment."[2]

The first same-sex wedding in the country happened in Cali on 24 May 2016.[1][59]

Public opinion

A poll conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 in Colombia's capital, Bogota, showed that 63% of the city's population was in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, while 36% was against it. The poll showed that women and people with a higher education level were more likely to support same-sex marriage.[60]

A nationwide poll taken in November 2012, however, found that 28% of Colombians supported same-sex marriage, while 66% opposed it and 6% did not respond.[61]

According to Pew Research Center survey, conducted between November 28, 2013 and March 4, 2014, 28% of Colombians supported same-sex marriage, 64% were opposed.[62][63]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ (Spanish) EL TIEMPO - Corte da primer derecho a parejas gays
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Colombian court rules in favour of equal rights for gay couples, Pink News, 6 October 2007
  6. ↑ Histórico: Colombia tiene matrimonio homosexual, Pink News, 30 January 2009
  7. ↑ (Spanish) 42 disposiciones modificó la Corte Constitucional para amparar derechos de las parejas gay,El Tiempo, 2009-01-29. Retrieved on July 02, 2009
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 (Spanish)El Tiempo. Corte explica por qué matrimonio homosexual es decisión del Congreso. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Top Colombian court affirms gay couples' right to joint health plans, International Herald Tribune
  10. ↑ (Spanish) Union marital de hecho
  11. ↑ DECISION C-577/11 The homosexuals have the right to form a family
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ (Spanish) Benedetti radica paquete de proyectos que no dan espera para ser debatidos
  17. ↑ (Spanish) N° Senado: 141/15
  18. ↑ (Spanish) Proyecto de matrimonio y adopción gay divide a la Unidad Nacional
  19. ↑ (Spanish) POR MEDIO DE LA CUAL SE REGULA LA UNION CIVIL ENTRE PAREJAS DEL MISMO SEXO Y SE DICTAN OTRAS DISPOSICIONES
  20. ↑ (Spanish) Proyecto de Ley “Por medio de la cual se regula la Unión Civil entre parejas del mismo sexo”
  21. ↑ (Spanish) POR MEDIO DE LA CUAL SE REFORMA LA LEY 1098 DE 2006 EN RELACIÒN CON LA MEDIDA DE PROTECCIÒN DE LA ADOPCIÓN Y SE DICTAN OTRAS DISPOSICIONES
  22. ↑ (Spanish) Proyecto de Ley “Por medio de la cual se reforma la ley 1098 de 2006 en relación con la medida de protección de la adopción y se dictan otras disposiciones”
  23. ↑ (Spanish) Hay cuatro proyectos para reglamentar la unión homosexual en el país
  24. ↑ (Spanish) "Matrimonio gay" empieza a ser tramitado en Senado
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ (Spanish) Por primera vez una comisión del Congreso aprueba el matrimonio gay
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ (Spanish) Matrimonio igualitario se hunde en Senado
  30. ↑ (Spanish) El Espectador. Notarios no podrán argumentar objeción de conciencia en uniones homosexuales. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  31. ↑ (Spanish) Notarios alistan contrato para la formalización de matrimonios gay
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ (Spanish) Homosexuales rechazan unión solemne en notarías y juzgados. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  34. ↑ (Spanish) Parejas gay acuden a juzgados para pedir que sean unidas en matrimonio. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  35. ↑ (Spanish) Juez aplica norma del matrimonio civil a pareja gay y cita a contrayentes con dos testigos. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ (Spanish) El ‘viacrucis’ del matrimonio gay
  41. ↑ (Spanish) Corte Constitucional iniciará discusión que anula matrimonios de parejas del mismo sexo
  42. ↑ (Spanish) Colombia: en unos 30 días se conocerá fallo matrimonio gay
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ (Spanish) Radican proyectos sobre matrimonio igualitario, adopción gay y eutanasia
  45. ↑ (Spanish) POR LA CUAL SE ESTABLECE LA INSTITUCIÒN DEL MATRIMONIO PARA PAREJAS DEL MISMO SEXO, SE MODIFICA EL CODIGO CIVIL Y SE DICTAN OTRAS DISPOSICIONES
  46. ↑ (Spanish) Proyecto de ley "Por la cual se establece la institución del matrimonio para parejas del mismo sexo, se modifica el Código Civil y se dictan otras disposiciones"
  47. ↑ (Spanish) Congreso inicia esta semana debate del proyecto sobre matrimonios gay
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ (Spanish) Los habitantes de Bogotá aprueban el matrimonio homosexual, según encuesta
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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