Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet has confirmed plans to introduce a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The bill would change the language of the nation’s marriage laws to be more inclusive.
“Marriage is a solemn contract by which two people, of the same or different sex, unite themselves, and for life, in order to live together, to procreate and to help each other,” the proposed new text would read.
The bill is scheduled to be introduced on 28 August, however it is not known at this time if the bill will also include provision to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
President Bachelet is a long-time supporter of marriage equality and the country’s LGBTI community.
Bachelet is currently in her second stint as the country’s leader, she was previously President from 2006 – 2010 and was elected again in 2014. The country’s laws do not allow someone to serve consecutive terms in the role. Between her terms in office she worked at the United Nations heading UN Women.
If the proposed changes are introduced Chile will become the fifth country in South America to achieve marriage equality following Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
OIP Staff
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