NPR News reports new legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile was approved in a landslide vote on December 7, 2021. An overwhelming majority of both houses of Chile's Congress authorized the measure.<br />President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, had long been in opposition to the marriage equality legislation, but he reversed course earlier this year.<br />"I think the time has come for marriage equality in our country." Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, via NPR News.<br />Chile is now the eighth country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.<br />Gay couples in Chile will now have access to expanded spousal benefits, as well as the ability to adopt.<br />Marriage rights activists in Chile campaigned for changes for more than a decade.<br />The legislation itself sat idle in Chile's Congress for four years.<br />It was initially introduced in 2017 by former President Michelle Bachelet.<br />"After centuries of abuse, the doors of justice, equality, and dignity have opened to same-sex couples." LGBTQ rights group MOVILH, via Twitter.
