No quorum in the Lower House to advance with the gay marriage bill

The General Law and Family, Women and Minority committees, of the Representatives House  today failed to gather a quorum to amend the civil marriage law, allowing same-sex marriages.

The General Law Committee’s president, Vilma Ibarra (Popular and Social Encounter), called off the meeting after waiting for the deputies for an hour and 20 minutes to start the debate.

The deputies from Frente para la Victoria, PRO and radicalism, didn’t show up to discuss the projects submitted by Silvia Augsburger (socialist) and Ibarra. From the officialist party, only the Family’s commission’s president, Juliana Di Tullio, and Claudio Morgado attended.

The projects submitted by Ibarra and the socialist Silvia Augsburger amend Article 172 of the Civil Code to substitute the phrase “man and woman” to “spouses”, referring to the granting of consent to establish marriage.

Before a large crowd of activists for the rights of gays and lesbians, Ibarra announced that he will convene a further meeting next week to get the initiative as soon as possible.

Congresswoman Cecilia Merchan asked the microphone to criticize the  main political forces’ stance.  “Many FpV and UCR members are in  favor of the project. It is unfortunate that the two main blocks have not been willing to debate. “

Marcela Rodriguez, president of LGBT (Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders), Maria Rachid, closed the meeting saying: “It seems in the human rights’ struggle we’re not included”.

Last week she had said: “Society changed a lot over the last years and we are aware that over 70% of the population are in favour of same sex marriages,” and she added: “The issue isn’t society but the governors’ courage to fight against a strong institution like the Catholic church. We trust they’ll do it.”