Uruguay is set to become the twelfth nation in the world to legislate same sex marriage; it will also be the second in Latin America. Australian marriage advocates have welcomed the change, but highlighted that Australia is falling rapidly behind on the movement.

“The majority of Australians who support marriage equality will look to what is happening in Uruguay with a mix of happiness that the reform is moving ahead and embarrassed that Australia is not part of that movement”, said Rodney Croome, the national director for Australian Marriage Equality.

“When same-sex couples begin soon to marry in Britain and New Zealand this embarrassment will only grow”.