Spanish Oddities
Argentine gay leaders say they will fight to have their Spanish marriage recognised at home
By m.p.
Jan 22, 2008 - 10:39 AM

The two leaders of the leading gay rights organisation in Argentina have married in Madrid, under the law which allows same-sex couples to marry in Spain. César Cigliutti and Marcelo Suntheim have a recognised civil union under legislation which was passed in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, in 2003, but are unable to marry in Argentina. They were able to do so in the Spanish capital thanks to Suntheim’s dual German and Argentinean citizenship, which allows him to marry in any country within the European Union.

The marriage on Monday was performed by the Partido Popular councillor, Luis Asúa Brunt, with the two Spanish writers, Javier Ugarte Pérez and Juan Herrero Bravo, acting as witnesses, El Mundo said.

The leaders of the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina say they will fight to have their marriage legally recognised in Argentina when they return to Buenos Aires, and will take it as far as the country’s Supreme Court if necessary.

Only a few areas of Argentina recognise civil unions between same-sex couples: Buenos Aires itself, the province of Río Negro in Patagonia, and the city of Villa Carlos Paz in Córdoba province.