COSTA RICA: Legislature Accidentally Approves Bill Legalizing Civil Unions

Lawmakers in Costa Rica are arguing over who's to blame after a bill that appears to have legalized civil unions was approved yesterday.

According to Costa Rican newspaper La Nacion, a project to ‘reinforce the quality of life in the country's youth’ also contained clauses about changing the Family Code to include same-sex unions. The bill, which 45 MPs approved last night, amended Article 242 of the Family Code, which regulates domestic partnerships. Manrique Oviedo, of the Citizen Action Party (PAC) urged Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla to veto the bill in order to ensure that same-sex unions are not legalized. Oviedo, who has previously opposed same-sex unions based on his evangelical beliefs, himself voted for the bill last night.

Read the story from the local Spanish press.