Argentina legalises gay marriage: Your comments

Demonstrators in favour of same-sex marriage gathered outside Argentina's Congress on 14 July

Your comments

It is wonderful news. All that myself and my boyfriend want to do is to adopt a child and be accepted by society. Viva Argentina! Now we can have that dream. Lionel, Cordoba, Argentina

This law means devolution and degeneration for our society. Families being the base of any society, a direct attack to its nucleus will eventually devastate the country. Worst of all is that this law is just some political move - senators have voted following their parties, not their conviction, nor the people. The media don't say this but there was a massive demonstration yesterday against this law and more than 150,000 people gathered in Plaza de los dos Congresos. Meanwhile, no more than 1,000 who were in favour of this law met at the Obelisco. The main reason why I reject this law is that it allows homosexual couples to adopt. A child needs a male and female figure so as to grow up and develop their personalities. Mari­a Chrestia, Tucuman, Argentina

The pride we feel today is not only because of being gay, but because we are now part of a more pluralistic and egalitarian country. It's a great day, not just for the LGBT community, but for the entire nation. This is not just about the right to get married, adopt children and be recognised as partners. It is also a big step for inclusion. Argentina is more than Buenos Aires, in the provinces the social acceptance of gays and lesbians is still complicated and the laws that now protect us are going to help minorities in rural regions. It is strange, while not being nationalistic at all, today I am wearing the emblem of the flag on my coat. I am so proud of my country today! Guido Ignatti, Buenos Aires, Argentina

It's a remarkable thing what happened: every single family in the country was until yesterday speaking about this, every single person everywhere in favour or against, but always in a respectful mature, way. Even in my town which is a small conservative town, only 20 people protested in the park against the bill yesterday, but no more than that. I'm a straight, Catholic, mother of three, but today I'm proud of my country and my people. Eugenia, Bahia Blanca, Argentina

I'm a Finnish man living in Argentina with my wonderful Argentine partner for three years now. Thanks to the new law, our relationship may finally be recognised where it matters: I can get legal residence and obtain the all-important ID card. No longer will I be forced to exit the country every three months or face fines for overstaying. Heikki, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I'm so happy! We are the first country in Latin America legalising gay marriage. I followed the 14 hours of debate. I hope to get married soon! Gaston, Buenos Aires

I think there are much more important and urgent issues to be dealt with by Argentinian politicians. If the government had carried out a poll I'm almost certain that most people would have been against gay marriage because as a society we are not as open minded as it appears. No one has asked the regular citizen what he thinks about this. Politicians - especially those belonging to Cristina Kirchner's government - have backed gay marriage mainly to provoke the Catholic Church, which is opposed to the government, and to divert people's attention from issues such as the protection of the Patagonian glaciers. Gabriela Vainstoin, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Despite the fact I consider myself heterosexual, I applaud the historic law that was voted-in in my country today. Perhaps the most interesting fact about what happened here today is that our country has a vast majority of Roman Catholics active in our population. The church, through their representatives and their institutions, spoke, marched and openly protested against homosexual marriage calling it "unnatural", "evil" and "perverted". Things will improve a lot for same-sex couples who have been living together for years and could not be seen, in the eyes of the law, as a true family. God created us equals. We all bleed red. I just hope the church realises that one day. Germain M Lomas de Zamora, Argentina

Supporters of the law remained while the debate continued for 14 hours

We like most Argentines feel that our wishes were not represented today. My family and I participated in the protest against same-sex marriage because of the controversial possibility of adopting children. We have no problem with gays and their rights to have the same rights - children are who we care and worry about. Children have a right to be raised in a natural environment which only a proper family can offer. We have no doubt this is just another way used by the government to face up to the Catholic Church. And nobody believes in the Argentine media since they are saying those who are against the same-sex marriage law are fundamentalists and old-fashioned. They forgot to say that there were Jewish and Muslim people and organisations in favour of a child's right to have a mom and a dad. Elian, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I'm a Finnish man living in Argentina with my wonderful Argentine partner for three years now. Thanks to the new law, our relationship may finally be recognised where it matters: I can get legal residence and obtain the all-important ID card. No longer will I be forced to exit the country every three months or face fines for overstaying. Heikki, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I'm very happy and proud of this outcome. I'm not homosexual, and probably it will not affect me or my close circle directly at all. But this will help build a better society. With gay marriage legalised, homosexual relations will be seen as more "normal". It will be considered in school education and discrimination will diminish. A society where we respect and don't discriminate against each other is peaceful and happier for everyone. Damian Lopez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

We are so proud about the legalisation of gay marriage, not only for being the first in Latin America, but for the fierce fight it required. The Catholic Church is very strong, especially in the provinces. One Archbishop called for a "war of God" and said the law was inspired by the devil to destroy the family. We are very proud of our country and of course of our Senate, for the gay community now have the same rights. Matias, San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Gay marriage is legal now in Argentina. I feel happy and Argentina can became a better country now. Edgardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I've collected signatures for the cause. I also was one of those who helped count them. I'm not gay. I do have gay friends, but that's not the reason why I was in favour of the passing of the bill. I just couldn't believe we were still talking about this in this century. The capital city couldn't stop talking about gay marriage. It was incredible - and not always in a good sense. Religious groups and older people were usually against it, but a lot of the younger people I talked to when collecting the signatures readily agreed to put their names down for the cause. One of the first ones I approached happened to be a gay man in his twenties. One of his co-workers said: "But you don't want to marry anyway!". He just smiled and told her: "Yeah, but I want to be able to choose to say no." Malena Pristupin, Argentina

This law will greatly benefit sexual minorities and society as a whole. It will not affect in any way heterosexual couples, children not even the church. Argentina, being one of the very few countries in the western world where there is no separation of church and state, has become a leader in civil rights. The Argentine society is the big winner in this battle for justice, the Catholic Church the only loser since priests antagonised society with hateful speech and intimidation. After all we've been through in human rights I am proud of being Argentine in this particular historic moment. Sebastian, Mar del Plata, Argentina

I am thrilled that gay people can now enjoy equality and other benefits that a civic union allows. However, most of my friends are against same-sex marriage, and listening to their views I realise we are having to pry their minds open as with a can opener. Hopefully this move by Congress will help Argentines get with the times. Elina Castro, Salta, Argentina