A new law in Chile that legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples went into effect Thursday. The law provides gay couples and heterosexuals many rights equivalent to married couples, like inheriting partners' property and, availing health and pension benefits, according to the Associated Press.
The law, which was passed overwhelmingly in national Parliament early this year, also makes it easier for individuals to get custody of their partner's children in case of death, according to Telesur.
Nearly 1,600 gay couples celebrated civil unions by formalizing their relationship on Thursday, according to Out.
"From today, Chile is different. Chile is for everyone. It was all very emotional. Our families were here, everyone was shedding tears," Roxana Ortiz said after registering her relationship with Virginia Gomez, according to BBC.
LGBT activists in Chile believe the legalization of same-sex civil unions is first step toward same-sex marriage recognition.
"The civil union doesn't end our struggle. We're demanding same-sex marriage. We're going to request for the measures stuck in congress to be revived," said Rolando Jimenez, president of the Gay Liberation and Integration Movement, according to the Associated Press.
The overwhelmingly Catholic Chile, often referred to as a conservative Latin American country, does not yet allow same-sex marriage.
Civil unions are allowed in several countries in the region, but same-sex marriage still remains illegal in most of them with exception of Argentina and Uruguay, according to VOA News.
