Rights in Uruguay

Age of consent
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1934. Then the age of consent became equal at 15, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender, however the corruption of persons under the age of 18 is criminalized as well, since 1994.

Anti-discrimination protection
Incitement to hatred on the ground of sexual orientation is prohibited since 2003, and in 2004 an anti-discrimination law (Ley Nº 17.817) was passed to create an Honorary Commission to Combat Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and other forms of Discrimination including sexual orientation and identity discrimination. Commission is intended to recommend laws to protect against various forms of discimination. The Commission was finally installed on March 21, 2007.

Recognition for both same-sex and opposite sex couples


Uruguay was the first Latin American Country to legalize civil unions under national legislation. Senator Margarita Percovich, the author of the legislation, said the bill would give couples entering civil unions the same rights as marriage. Under the legislation couples would have be together for at least five years and sign a registry. The couples will receive health benefits, inheritance, parenting and pension rights. Following the approval of a bill proposed by Margarita Percovich of the Broad Front coalition in November 2007, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples will be allowed to enter into a Civil union after they live together for at least five years, and will be entitled to get some of the benefits that married couples are afforded. The bill was passed in Congress on 30 November 2007 after having been passed in a similar form in the Senate earlier in February 2007; the bill was passed by both chambers in the same forum on December 19 and signed into law by president Tabaré Vázquez on December 27. It came into effect since 1 January 2008. As of today, 30 couples (both same and mixed sexed couples) have formed a civil union.

Same-Sex couples right for Adoption
A law accepting gay adoption has been promoted by the government and it is currently discussed by Uruguayan parliament