Welcome, Argentina
I will never understand those who proclaim love as the foundation of life, while denying so radically protection, understanding and affection to our neighbors, our friends, our relatives, our colleagues.
What kind of love is this that excludes those who experience their sexuality in a different way?–Spain’s Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at the time that Spain adopted marriage equality in 2005 [quoted by Mike Tidmus, "There’s ‘fierce advocacy’ and there’s those who just mouth the words", Mike Tidmus blog, 14 July 2010.]
I don't understand them either, really, really don't understand in some deep way. But no matter, progress comes in our lifetime, albeit slowly in the US, a country thought by many of its most conservative residents to be one of the world's most progressive.
In the wee hours of this morning, at 4:06 am and after 14 hours of debate, the Senate in Argentina voted 33 in favor, 27 against a bill to establish marriage equality in that country. Many people were watching what is almost a South American version of "Really! In Iowa?", staying up late for the moment to arrive.
#Argentina votes yes on gay marriage law! A great nation making history.
–Ricky Martin tweeting the news early on the morning of 15 July 2010 [quoted by Joe Jervis, "Argentina's Senate APPROVES Marriage Equality 33-27!!!!", Joe.My.God, 15 July 2010]
It's a pretty happy-making event for me, not to mention those living in Argentina. Argentina now makes the worldwide count of entire countries embracing marriage equality equal to ten.
2001 Netherlands
2003 Belgium
2005 Spain
2005 Canada
2006 South Africa
2008 Norway
2009 Sweden
2010 Portugal
2010 Iceland
2010 Argentina[Timothy Kincaid, "Argentina legalizes same-sex marriage", Box Turtle Bulletin, 15 July 2010.]
It's still an unusually exclusive club, but welcoming and inexorably expanding.
Here's a short video of the reaction of the pro-marriage-equality crowd waiting outside for the vote to be announced, introduced by Andy Towle:
Crowds assembled in the Plaza del Congreso in Buenos Aires waiting all night for a vote on marriage equality erupted upon hearing the news at nearly 4:00 in the morning.
–Andy Towle, "Video: Joy Erupts in Argentina Over Legalization of Gay Marriage", Towleroad, 25 July 2010]
[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]
For some additional coverage of events, Mike Tidmus ("Argentina gets marriage equality", Mike Tidmus blog, 15 July 2010) provides links to several news stories.