NPR News reports new legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile was approved in a landslide vote on December 7, 2021. An overwhelming majority of both houses of Chile's Congress authorized the measure.
President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, had long been in opposition to the marriage equality legislation, but he reversed course earlier this year.
"I think the time has come for marriage equality in our country." Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, via NPR News.
Chile is now the eighth country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.
Gay couples in Chile will now have access to expanded spousal benefits, as well as the ability to adopt.
Marriage rights activists in Chile campaigned for changes for more than a decade.
The legislation itself sat idle in Chile's Congress for four years.
It was initially introduced in 2017 by former President Michelle Bachelet.
"After centuries of abuse, the doors of justice, equality, and dignity have opened to same-sex couples." LGBTQ rights group MOVILH, via Twitter.
