Gay marriage in Colombia has had a long and difficult journey, but the government is apparently determined to bring in equality.
Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo has confirmed the leading political party, the left-leaning National Unity Coalition, has every intention for gay couples to be able to get married soon.
‘The government supports the fight for equality and we will adopt measures providing equal marriage rights for all,’ Cristo said at the Andes University in Bogota on Thursday, as reported by Efe.
He said he would not submit to the mercy of the majority on matters related to human rights, as ‘respect for equal rights is not optional’.
In July 2011, Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled Congress had two years to legalize same-sex marriage or an equivalent of marriage. As Congress failed to mass a marriage equality bill, the courts began approving marriages themselves.
But then, the country’s Inspector General requested the Court invalidate all the marriages approved in Colombia.
Only 30 same-sex couples were given a license.
The majority of Colombians, according to most polls, are currently opposed to same-sex marriage.