(Montevideo) The lower house in Uruguay's Congress passed legislation Thursday allowing same and opposite-sex couples to form civil unions.

A similar bill has already passed the Senate. The two measures need to be harmonized into a single bill and receive a final vote - something considered only a formality.

The measure is expected to become law next month.

The measure was a campaign promise of the ruling leftist coalition.

Same-sex marriage will remain illegal in Uruguay, something LGBT rights groups say they will continue to fight. But, they say the civil union bill is a major step in the right direction in a region where the Catholic Church dominates much of everyday life.

Under the legislation couples would have be together for at least five years and sign a registry. They would then receive pension, inheritance and parenting rights.

In neighboring Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul state which lies along the border, passed civil union legislation in 2004, two years after Buenos Aires passed a similar law. Civil unions also are legal in Mexico City and Coahuila state.

But this would make Uruguay the first country in Latin America to have a national civil union law.

365Gay.com

I was super surprised to see an article about Abortion Rights and LGTB Movement in Uruguay in one blog of an Uruguayan fellow thinking outside the box. You will be able to see pictures of the event.

Abortion and Sexual Diversity

As you know a Gay Soccer Championship is going on the other side of the River Plate. Meanwhile in Montevideo as of Friday September 28th a World Convention of Gay Families will be taking place. 

The convention has the support of the city of Montevideo government as well as the other political parties represented in Parliament.

Participants of the convention come from 14 different nations Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, the USA and Uruguay.

1- Is it possible for a person born in Uruguay to hold two or more nationalities (Passport/s)?

2- What happens with the ones born outside Uruguay, can these hold Uruguayan nationality in addition to other/s (Passport/s) ?

3- Am I intended to renounce my original or current citizenship when I naturalized as an Uruguayan national?

4- How could I know if I will be able to keep my original or current nationality despite the fact of formal renouncement?

5- Am I entitled to an Uruguayan Passport upon acquisition of Uruguayan nationality?

6- What passport am I to use when I travel from or to Uruguay?

7- Do I obtain any tax breaks in Uruguay because of Uruguayan nationality?

Any improvements in benefits for same-sex couples appear to be a long way off in Uruguay.

Conservatives within President Tabaré Vazquez's Center-Left government have managed to delay the introduction of a bill to provide limited rights to gay and lesbian couples along with unmarried opposite-sex couples until the executive branch provides the possibility to grant some rights in the bill that must be authorized from the national government such as social security benefits.

Next Thursday 28th June a Public Gathering will take place to Remember Stonewell

Place: Plaza Libertad; also called Cagancha Square (18 de Julio Street) Montevideo

Time: 7 PM (Uruguayan Time)

Beware of the climate conditions as it is an outdoors activity.