In 1998,
Ecuador's new constitution introduced protections against discrimination based
on sexual orientation. In 1999, Chile
decriminalized same-sex intercourse. Rio de Janeiro's state legislature banned
sexual-orientation discrimination in public and private establishments in 2000.
In 2002, Buenos Aires
guaranteed all couples, regardless of gender, the right to register civil
unions.
The policy changes just kept coming. In 2003, Mexico passed a
federal antidiscrimination law that included sexual orientation. A year later,
the government of Brazil
initiated "Brasil sem homofobia" (Brazil without homophobia), a
program with nongovernmental organizations to change social attitudes toward sexuality.
In 2006, Mexico City
approved the Societal Cohabitation Law, granting same-sex couples marital
rights identical to those for common-law relationships between a man and a woman.
Uruguay
passed a 2007 law granting access to health benefits, inheritance, parenting,
and pension rights to all couples who have cohabited for at least five years. In
2008, Nicaragua
reformed its penal code to decriminalize same-sex relations. Even Cuba's authoritarian
new president, Raúl Castro, has allowed free sex-change operations for
qualifying citizen
On Wednesday, September 9, 2009, the legislative branch in Uruguay passed a bill allowing for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. This law had major support from the Senators in a 17 out of 23 vote and is unlike any other gay rights movement bill in Latin America. Liberal activists hope this is just the first step in a very long line of the liberation of not only gay rights, but human rights. Uruguay is also noted to be the first Latin American country to approve divorce and women's right to vote.
