Legislative Assembly votes against same-sex marriages

Last week, the Legislative Assembly in El Salvador approved a new amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as a union solely between a man and a woman, thereby by prohibiting same-sex marriages as well as adoption by same-sex parents. Rodolfo Parker, PDC Legislator and supporter of the amendment, pronounced, "Marriage is only between a man and a woman, born that way. It remains consecrated in our country that marriage is not possible for same-sex couples."

FMLN politicians expressed concern over the amendment for its discriminatory nature and did not vote to approve the amendment. FMLN Legislator Arturo Fernández stated that although the party refused to support the amendment, the FMLN has no plans to promote the legalization of same-sex marriages and pointed out that the country's LGBT organizations have not asked for legalization of same-sex marriages either. In fact, the Alliance for Diversity Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) issued a statement confirming that "we are have asked them to legalize [same-sex] marriages, but that they enact laws that do not affect their legality."

*Photo of the Alliance for Diversity's vigil courtesy of El Diario de Hoy.

- Sara Skinner, US Grassroots Coordinator