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COLOMBIA: Senate Committee Advances Marriage Equality Bill

This is just brilliant. A Colombian Senate committee has advanced a much-anticipated marriage equality bill, reports On Top Mag.

With a 10-5 vote, the First Committee has approved Senator Armando Benedetti's proposed measure. Benedetti's proposal originally sought to create civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. He has since altered the language to marriage. However, Benedetti's bill would not give married gay couples the right to adopt children. Tuesday's vote is the first of four needed for the measure to become law.

"In this country homosexuals already have economic rights and social security, therefore it is time to move toward matrimony," Benedetti is quoted as saying by El Espectador.

Not surprisingly, the measure has its critics, notes Colombia Reports.

El Espectador reported that Marco Fidel Suarez aggressively attacked the proposed bill, claiming it contradicts Article 42 of the constitution which states marriage is between a man and a woman.

"Marriage and family is a man and a woman. As established in Article 42 of the constitution, the family is the nucleus of society, and that consists of a man and a woman," said Suarez. The congressman also targeted the constitutional court, claiming it is "composed of men who are obviously fallible and not of the heavenly court."

Colombia's Constitutional Court has ruled that the Congress must recognize same-sex unions before July 2013 or they would do so. The high court has already granted same-sex couples inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance plan. A ruling on adoption by gay couples is pending.

The becomes only the latest news from a continent that is rapidly embracing LGBT rights. In March, the mayor of the Colombian capital of Bogotá appointed a transgender woman to head the city's social welfare agency. Ecuador's new health minister is openly lesbian. Argentina's Senate unanimously approved a landmark gender identity bill in May that mandated access to sex reassignment surgery for transgender persons. Chile approved anti-discrimination legislation that protected sexual orientation only one month earlier.

Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide in July 2010. Marriage equality has been the law in Mexico City since December 2009. Those same sex marriages are recognized in all of Mexico's 31 states. Brazil's Supreme Court unanimously approved civil unions for same-sex couples in May 2011. A marriage equality and adoption bill was introduced last month in Uruguay, too.

URUGUAY: Marriage Equality Bill Introduced, Debate Begins

Excellent news to report from the South American nation of Uruguay. After several delays earlier this year, a marriage equality and adoption bill has been introduced in the General Assembly, reports the Associated Press.

Uruguay already permits same-sex civil unions. If the new law is legalized, it would become South America's second nation after Argentina to legalize marriage equality.

The proposed "marriage equality" law would ... give married gays and lesbians all the rights and responsibilities of heterosexual married couples, including the possibility of adopting children.

It was drafted by gay rights activists activists in the so-called "Black Sheep Collective" and now has the support of lawmakers in the ruling Broad Front coalition, which decided Wednesday to debate the measure next week in the House of Deputies' constitutional commission.

"Today's society is much broader than the heterosexual, and the civil code should reflect this: a marriage institution that applies equally to all," Federico Grana, a member of the collective, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "This goes well beyond homosexuality — it's a law that gives all the same rights and responsibilities."

Uruguay's Roman Catholic Church is opposed the bill. No surprise there.

In July 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. Marriage equality has been the law in Mexico City since December 2009. Those same sex marriages are recognized in all of Mexico's 31 states. Brazil's Supreme Court unanimously approved civil unions for same-sex couples in May 2011.

The becomes only the latest news from a continent that is rapidly embracing LGBT rights. Argentina's Senate unanimously approved a landmark gender identity bill in May that mandated access to sex reassignment surgery for transgender persons. Chile approved anti-discrimination legislation that protected sexual orientation only one month earlier.

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REPORT: Uruguay to Begin Debating Marriage Equality Legislation

The South American nation of Uruguay is reportedly preparing to debate legislation that would mandate marriage equality before the year's end. That's according to Spain's largest newspaper which is translated by On Top Magazine.

Uruguay already permits same-sex civil unions. If the new law is legalized, it would become South America's second nation after Argentina to legalize marriage equality. 

Paul Maqueira of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) told El Pais that an initial draft of the measure had already been prepared. "The idea is to promote a marriage equality project so that gay couples have equal access to marriage as heterosexuals," he said. Maqueira declined to say when the proposal might reach lawmakers but said he felt this would happen “before the end of the year.”

The move comes a week after a court in Uruguay for the first time recognized the legal marriage of a gay couple. Judge Eduardo Martinez recognized on appeal the legality of a marriage entered into in Spain, where Socialists legalized marriage equality in 2005. The binational couple lives in both Uruguay and Spain.

 In July 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. Marriage equality is also the law in Mexico City. Brazil's Supreme Court unanimously approved civil unions for same-sex couples in May 2011.

The report becomes only the latest news from a continent that is rapidly embracing LGBT rights. Argentina's Senate unanimously approved a landmark gender identity bill in May that mandated access to sex reassignment surgery for transgender persons. Chile approved anti-discrimination legislation that protected sexual orientation only one month earlier.

You May Have Missed ....
Argentina Approves Gay Marriage After All-Night Debate
WATCH: Thousands Cheer After Marriage Vote in Argentina
Brazil's Supreme Court Approves Civil Unions
Costa Rica Court Rejects Popular Vote on Civil Unions

Hawaii Braces for Expected Tsunami

Sirens are warning across the Hawaiian Islands and residents are bracing for an expected tsunami as a result of the massive 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Chile. Authorities predict  the tsunami wave should arrive at a height of over 8 feet  at approximately 4:19 pm EST, 11:19 am HST.

Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from coastlines and low-lying areas throughout the state, including the islands of Maui, Kauai and the most populated island, Oahu, where Honolulu lies. Hilo Bay on the island of Hawaii is said to be of extreme concern.

The Honolulu Advertiser has alerts, video and a comprehensive news feed on the potential tsunami.

UStream LIVE webcast WHEN YOU JUMP...

NYT: No significant wave damage and tsunami warning canceled: "Tsunami waves arrived in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon, as predicted, causing erratic surges in the sea, but the impact was not nearly as great as had been feared. The rising water did not appear to cause significant property damage, officials said, and a tsunami warning was canceled.... Hawaii television news showed the tide moving in and out in Helo Bay, a spot traditionally hard hit in tsunamis. In this case, the tsunami was creating what appeared to be white-water rapids in certain spots in the harbor as the water rushed in and out. But the tsunami, which clearly had arrived, had not caused any obvious damage."

Massive 8.8 Earthquake Hits Chilean Coast, Triggers Tsunamis

A massive earthquake has hit the coast of Chile, killing dozens of people, flattening buildings and triggering a 7.7 foot tsunami wave. The 8.8-magnitude quake, the country's largest in 25 years, shook the capital Santiago for a minute and half at 3:34am. The death toll is expected to rise, perhaps substantially.

The photo above taken at a freeway near the capital of Santiago. The major elevated highway and bridge connecting northern and southern Chile "was rendered inoperable", CNN reports.

The entire Pacific Rim as far away as Hawaii and Australia are under tsunami warning. Eight foot and four foot tsunami waves were reported in Chile. Beaches are closing in Hawaii and the state is preparing to start evacuations ahead of a tsunami generated by the massive earthquake in Chile, Reuters reports.

CNN reports the Chilean quake was 700 times stronger than last month's 7.7 earthquake that devastated Haiti. More information as it develops ...