A commission of Chilean deputies approved on Tuesday a bill that legalizes equal marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, which must now be dealt with in the Chamber of Deputies.

The initiative, which was approved by the Senate more than two months ago, received the unanimous vote of the 10 pro-government and opposition deputies present at the meeting of the Constitution, Legislation and Justice Commission. Four other right-wing legislators were absent from the meeting.

The bill will go to the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, where the center-left opposition that supports marriage between same-sex couples is in the majority. The date has not yet been defined.

“Chile today is more decent, today Chile recognizes different forms of family,” said Rolando Jiménez, a veteran leader of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH).

Oscar Rementería, MOVILH spokesman, urged the Chamber of Deputies “to approve in a transversal and forceful manner the project dispatched.”

He reiterated the demand to the mixed commission of deputies and senators, which must then continue with the processing because the commission introduced some changes at the request of MOVILH.

At the last meeting on the initiative, the Commission approved an article on the order of the surnames of the children of same-sex couples.

In the previous debates, the group of deputies approved several indications presented by organizations that defend homosexual groups, such as the repeal of several articles of the Gender Identity Law that prevent married transgender people from rectifying their birth certificate.

In addition, the recognition of the maternity of trans women and the paternity of trans men in the birth certificates of their children was approved.

Chile has had a Civil Union Agreement (AUC) since 2015 that civilly recognizes heterosexual and homosexual couples and protects them in aspects such as inheritance and some health benefits, but does not pronounce on adoption.

The initiative on equal marriage was approved by the Senate two months ago by 28 votes in favor and 14 against, while adoption by same-sex couples received 29 positive votes and 14 rejections.

The project on equal marriage was sent to the legislature by former socialist president Michelle Bachelet seven months before the end of her second term (2014-2018) and slept in Congress until last June, when center-right president Sebastián Piñera surprisingly announced his support for the union. of same-sex couples and put urgency.

The president had always believed that marriage is between a man and a woman.

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