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Homosexual Pair Attempts "Matrimony" in Argentina

Event staged as test case to force legalization through the courts

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

ROSARIO, Argentina, February 21, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A pair of homosexuals were rebuffed Monday by a judge in Rosario, Argentina, after requesting permission to "marry" each other under Argentine law.

The two men, Martín Peretti Scioli and Oscar Marvich, were accompanied by a number of Argentine politicians and celebrities, as well as a notary, who formally registered the judge's decision.

"We are coming to formally request a date to marry each other just like any heterosexual couple, because we consider ourselves to be citizens with rights, and we want a civil union," said Peretti to the judge, who denied their request based on provincial law.

The intention of the pair is to create a test case that they hope will lead to a decision legalizing gay "marriage" in Argentina.  They are reportedly prepared to appeal the case to the nation's Supreme Court.

Their petition for "marriage" is backed by the Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transsexuals (FALGBT) as well as the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism (INADI).  The latter organization says that they will give legal assistance to the pair for the litigation of the case in the Argentine courts.

FALGBT says that they will promote the case with the slogan "the same rights with the same names", indicating their desire to avoid the term "civil union" in favor of "marriage" for homosexual couples.

Among those who accompanied the couple to the event were Silvia Augsburger, president of the socialist bloc in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, Miguel Zamarini, President of the Rosario City Council, and various national and state legislators.

"We're doing this to install the topic in society, to construct valid concepts and destroy myths regarding homosexuality and, also, to encourage other homosexual pairs to demand the rights that correspond to them, to us, and to everyone equally," the couple told AGMagazine, a homosexual publication.

Contact Information:

Embassy of Argentina in the USA
1600 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20009-2512
Phone (202) 238-6401
Fax (202) 332-3171

Embassy of Argentina in Canada
81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 700
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6K7
Tel: (613) 236-2351
Fax: (613) 235-2659
Email:

Argentine Embassies in Other Countries
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Argentina/Argentina1.html
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