A victory for gay rights! Couples in Chile sign up for first civil unions

Santiago: Gay couples flocked to civil registries in Chile on Thursday to pick a time to celebrate the first same-sex civil unions since their historic approval earlier this year. [caption id=“attachment_2336026” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo. People celebrate the approval of the first law that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions in January. AFP[/caption] Couples were able to sign up for the Civil Union Agreement (AUC) for free, six months after it was approved by Congress in the religiously conservative country. “We were the FIRST couple that signed up for the AUC (Civil Union Agreement) in (the central city of) Vina del Mar,” wrote Felipe Egido, a man who posted a picture on Twitter of him and his partner next to a civil servant. Civil unions will begin in October. While it falls short of marriage, the measure allows same-sex couples to enjoy similar rights as straight couples. “It’s a historic moment,” said Justice Minister Javiera Blanco. A small group of Latin American nations – Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay – allow gay marriage. Last month, Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a ruling that opened the door to same-sex marriage. AFP