Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

does not recognize same-sex unions nationwide, though the state of Mérida

Mérida (state)

Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...

 recognizes same-sex civil unions.

Court challenges

2003 — A gay NGO called Unión Afirmativa (Affirmative Union) submitted an Appeal to the Supreme Court in order to get legal recognition of economic rights (pensions, inheritance, social security, common household, etc.) for same sex partners. The ruling, issued on February 28th, 2008, despite recognizing that "same sex partners enjoy all of the rights, civil, political and economic, social and cultural rights- have not such "special protection" which could be binding for the Venezuelan state, in the same terms than married couples have. Notwithstanding this, the National Assembly "can" (but is not bound to) legislate in order to protect such rights for homosexual partners.

Legislative action

On March 20, 2009, Chamber of Deputies

Chamber of Deputies

Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...

 member Romelia Matute announced that the National Assembly

National Assembly of Venezuela

The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government. It is a unicameral body made up of a variable number of members, who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote partly by direct election in state-based voting districts, and partly on a state-based...

 would legalize same-sex unions and recognize them as asociaciones de convivencia (association by cohabitation). However, later in the same month, Marelys Pérez—chairperson of the Family, Women and Youth Commission—announced that no such action would be taking place. However, Pérez added that the Commission would debate the same-sex partnership initiative, though exclude it from the current bill and likely wait for its inclusion into a future Civil Code reform or a future updated anti-discrimination measure. In addition to allowing for same-sex civil unions, the bill would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. President Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chávez

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...

 has voiced his support for the bill. The bill has passed its first hearing in the National Assembly of Venezuela

National Assembly of Venezuela

The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government. It is a unicameral body made up of a variable number of members, who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote partly by direct election in state-based voting districts, and partly on a state-based...

, and if it passes its second, it will become law.