Argentina more progressive than US, UK

The Guardian reports:

Argentina's senate passed a same-sex marriage bill today, clearing the way for the country to become the first in South America to allow gay couples to marry.

Following more than 14 hours of charged debate, during which thousands of Argentinians protested outside the congress, the upper house voted 33-27 for the proposal, with three abstentions.

"I believe this has advanced equal rights," Senator Eugenio Artaza said after the debate, in which many senators invoked their Catholic beliefs to explain their stance (I can't imagine these senators were arguing for same-sex marriage).

Only a small number of countries permit same-sex marriage, including the Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal and Canada. In the US, same-sex couples can marry in five states and in the capital, Washington.

Same-sex couples in Mexico City won the same rights as heterosexuals to marry and adopt children in December, under a law passed by city legislators. Uruguay allows same-sex couples to adopt children but not to marry.