(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