Ecuador: Same-Sex couples able to register civil union, marriage still illegal

feminist.org reported as of September 15, same-sex couples in Ecuador will finally be able to register their civil unions. Same-sex marriage in Ecuador is still illegal, but the status of civil union will be noted on national ID cards, and will allow certain legal and financial benefits to the couple.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa met with LGBT leaders days before the announcement. At the meeting, Correa received a report from the leaders that documented cases of discrimination against LGBT people in Ecuador that were a result of the lack of legal recognition for same-sex couples.

“If there was any doubt about heterosexual or same-sex civil unions being put on national ID cards, there is none any more,” Correa told Telesur after the announcement, “and if someone is still turned away by a government employee, that employee will be dismissed for denying constitutional rights.” Read Article