Same-sex marriage in Chile

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Chile since 10 March 2022.^[1][2] In June 2021, President Sebastián Piñera announced that his government would sponsor a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.^[3][4] The Senate of Chile passed the legislation on 21 July 2021, and the Chamber of Deputies gave its approval on 23 November 2021. Disagreements on some aspects of the bill led to the formation of a mixed commission to discuss it. Both chambers of the National Congress approved an identical version of the bill on 7 December 2021.^[5][6] President Piñera signed the legislation into law on 9 December,^[7] and it was published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 10 December. The law took effect 90 days later, with the first same-sex marriages taking place on 10 March 2022.^[8] Chile was the sixth country in South America and the 29th in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry.^[9]

Chile had previously recognized same-sex couples in the form of civil unions only. Civil unions, known as acuerdo de unión civil (AUC) in Spanish, are offered to all couples regardless of sexual orientation, providing some, but not all, of the rights of marriage. The first civil unions were registered on 22 October 2015.

Civil unions

Bachelet's first presidency

In the January 2006 presidential campaign, both major candidates, center-left Michelle Bachelet and center-right Sebastián Piñera, voiced their support for civil unions, but the Catholic Church and many members of National Congress were opposed.^[10]

In October 2009, a civil union bill was introduced to the National Congress, but it failed to pass.^[11]

Piñera's first presidency

 

LGBT activists in Valdivia, with a banner saying "We are families too", 2011

During his run-up to the presidency in 2009, Piñera vowed to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and included a same-sex couple in one of his televised campaign ads.^[12]

In June 2010, Senator Andrés Allamand (National Renewal) submitted a bill to Congress to permit a "common life agreement" (Spanish: Acuerdo de Vida en Común), which would have been open to both different-sex and same-sex couples.^[13] On 3 August 2010, Senator Fulvio Rossi (Socialist Party) introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the country.^[14] During the first week of September 2010, several senators backing the bill said they would withdraw their support after talks with members of the Evangelical Church, and instead announced support for the civil union bill introduced by Senator Allamand.

In May 2011, President Piñera said he was in favor of an upcoming bill to legalize a form of civil union; his stated intent was to "protect and safeguard [...] the dignity of those couples, whether of the opposite or even the same sex".^[15] Piñera introduced a bill to Congress in August 2011 allowing registered cohabitation, known as Acuerdo de Vida en Pareja ("Life Partnership Agreement"). This would give unmarried partners many of the rights granted only to married couples, such as inheritance and certain social welfare and health care benefits.^[16] Under Piñera's legislation, same-sex couples would be able to register their civil partnership with a notary.^[17] On 10 April 2013, the civil union bill was approved by the Senate's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on a 4–1 vote.^[18][19] On 7 January 2014, the Senate voted 28–6 in favor,^[20] but the bill was not voted on by the Chamber of Deputies before the end of the parliamentary session in March 2014, despite it being a priority issue for Piñera.

Bachelet's second presidency

When Michelle Bachelet again took office as president in March 2014, she made passing Piñera's civil union bill a priority.^[21] On 5 August 2014, a Senate committee approved the civil union bill.^[22] On 7 October 2014, the bill was passed by the Senate, and moved to the Chamber of Deputies.^[23]

 

President Michelle Bachelet promulgating the civil union law, 13 April 2015

The name of the bill was changed to Civil Union Pact (Spanish: Pacto de Unión Civil) on 17 December, and Congress reiterated its intention to hold the final vote by January 2015.^[24] On 6 January 2015, a provision recognizing foreign marriages as civil unions was approved by the Constitution Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, while a clause recognizing adoption rights was rejected. As the bill was amended, it went to a final vote in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.^[25] On 13 January, the Chamber of Deputies reinserted the adoption provision. On 20 January 2015, the Chamber approved the bill on a vote of 86 to 23 with 2 abstentions. On 27 January, the Senate rejected all the Chamber's amendments, so the bill was sent to a joint committee of both houses.^[26] The committee reached an agreement with regard to the text of the bill and changed the name to Civil Union Agreement (Spanish: Acuerdo de Unión Civil, pronounced [aˈkweɾðo ðewˈnjon siˈβil]) the same day. The bill was passed in both houses on 28 January 2015.^[27][28] Several lawmakers asked the Constitutional Court to verify the bill's constitutionality, which was upheld by the court in a ruling released on 6 April 2015.^[29] The bill was signed into law by President Bachelet on 13 April 2015.^[30][31] It was published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 21 April and took effect on 22 October 2015.^[32][33][34]

Chile's civil union provisions enable couples to claim pension benefits and inherit property if their civil partner dies, as well as more easily co-own property and make medical decisions for one another. It does not allow couples to adopt. All disputes and conflicts involving civil partners are dealt with by the family courts.^[a] The government estimated at the time of the law going into effect that some two million cohabiting couples could have their unions legally recognized. In the day following the law going into effect, approximately 1,600 couples had signed up to register their unions.^[40] The first same-sex civil union on Easter Island was performed for Petero Avaka Tukuone and Aru Pate Hotus, a Mapuche-Rapa Nui couple, in November 2015.^[41]

On 1 December 2016, the Chamber of Deputies unanimously passed a bill (with six abstentions) granting civil partners five days marriage leave, similar to newly married couples.^[42][43][44] The bill was approved by the Senate in October 2017 in a unanimous 15–0 vote.^[45] The law took effect on 8 November 2017.^[46]

Statistics

31,098 couples entered into a civil union between 2015 and 2019. Of these, 21% were same-sex couples (3,310 female couples and 3,271 male couples). From October to December 2015, 28.7% of the civil unions registered were of same-sex couples; however, in the following months, this number declined and stabilized to around 20%.^[47]

Civil unions represented around 10% of the total unions registered in the country. Between 2016 and 2019, 248,567 marriages and 22,951 civil unions were performed.^[47] In the same period, 5,950 same-sex civil unions were registered, accounting for 2.14% of all the legal unions registered in Chile.^[47] Most civil unions were performed in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (44%) followed by the Valparaíso Region (14%). Considering population, the region with the largest number of civil unions was Antofagasta (7.6 per 10,000 inhabitants), while the lowest was Araucanía (2.0 per 10,000 inhabitants).^[47] The Metropolitan Region had also the largest share of same-sex civil unions compared to opposite-sex unions (27%), followed by O'Higgins (22%) and Valparaíso (20%). On the other hand, Aysén had the lowest share of same-sex unions (8%), followed by Los Ríos (11%), Coquimbo (12%) and Magallanes (12%).^[47]

Civil unions in Chile by year^[47]

Year	Same-sex unions			Heterosexual unions	Total unions	% same-sex
	Female	Male	Total
2015	274	357	631	1,566	2,197	28.72%
2016	744	854	1,598	5,676	7,274	21.97%
2017	662	613	1,275	4,947	6,222	20.49%
2018	740	743	1,483	5,773	7,256	20.44%
2019	851	743	1,594	6,555	8,149	19.56%
2020	583	529	1,112	4,216	5,328	20.87%

Same-sex marriage

 

Recognition of same-sex unions in South America

  Marriage

  Other type of partnership

  Country subject to IACHR ruling

  Unrecognized

  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples

  Same-sex sexual activity illegal, though penalties not enforced

---

• v
• t
• e

Court cases

The first attempts to legalize same-sex marriage in Chile were made after the ban was legally challenged in different national and international courts in the early 2010s. The Constitutional Court of Chile heard oral arguments on 28 July 2011 regarding the constitutionality of article 102 of the Civil Code, which banned same-sex marriage,^[48] but ruled in a 9–1 vote on November 3 that the ban was not unconstitutional.^[49]

A lawsuit was filed with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2012 challenging Chile's same-sex marriage as a violation of the American Convention on Human Rights and Chile's international obligations. The Piñera Government stated its opposition to the suit in 2013.

On 10 June 2016, the Third Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Santiago rejected another lawsuit filed by the LGBT group MOVILH. The court ruled that as Chilean legislation did not permit same-sex marriages, the civil registry could not marry same-sex couples. It also held that opening marriage to same-sex couples was a decision for Congress and not for the courts.^[50]

In December 2018, the Supreme Court of Chile recognized marriage as a fundamental right, in a case legal experts suggested may pave the way for same-sex marriage to be legalized in Chile.^[51] Shortly after the ruling, a same-sex couple challenged the same-sex marriage ban in court, arguing that it was unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.^[52] On 26 April 2019, after the Supreme Court referred the case back to the Santiago Court of Appeals due to a probable constitutional violation, the latter ruled that denying the couple a marriage license was not illegal.^[53] The plaintiffs appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court;^[54] however, the appeal was not accepted.

Agreement with the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights

Even though some minor presidential candidates had announced their support for same-sex marriage, Michelle Bachelet was the first major candidate to declare her support in the lead up to the November 2013 presidential elections. On 11 April 2013, she announced her intention to legalize same-sex marriage if elected president. Bachelet, who had previously been president of Chile between 2006 and 2010, won the election on 15 December 2013.^[55] After Bachelet's inauguration in March 2014, MOVILH announced that they would seek an amicable solution to the lawsuit presented to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2012. On 10 December 2014, a group of senators from various parties presented a bill to allow same-sex marriage and adoption to the National Congress of Chile, with the support of MOVILH.^[56] On 17 February 2015, lawyers representing the government and MOVILH met to discuss the case, and the government announced that they would drop their opposition to same-sex marriage.^[57] A formal agreement between the two parties and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights was signed in April 2015.^[57]

 

President Michelle Bachelet introducing the same-sex marriage bill to Congress, 28 August 2017

On 1 July 2016, the government announced that it would begin consultations on a same-sex marriage bill in September 2016, with the aim of finalizing it by mid-2017, and said it views a ban on same-sex marriage as a "human rights violation".^[58][59] President Bachelet stated before a United Nations General Assembly panel in September 2016 that the Chilean Government would submit a same-sex marriage bill to Congress "in the first half of 2017."^[60] In June 2017, she announced in a speech to Congress that the bill would be introduced in the second half of 2017.^[61] It was later confirmed that the bill would grant married same-sex couples equal adoption rights.^[62] The bill was introduced to Congress on 28 August 2017,^[63][64] before being submitted to the Senate on 5 September and referred to the Constitution, Legislation, Justice and Regulation Committee.^[65][66]

On 19 November 2017, Chile held parliamentary elections and the first round of the presidential election. According to newspaper La Tercera and LGBT activists, a majority of the newly elected Chamber of Deputies and Senate were in favor of same-sex marriage.^[67][68] The Senate's Constitution, Legislation, Justice, and Regulation Committee began examining the bill on 27 November 2017.^[69][70] Two days prior, an estimated 100,000 people marched in Santiago in favor of the bill's passage. Participants included many lawmakers and diplomats, including presidential candidate Alejandro Guillier.^[71]

On 17 December 2017, Sebastián Piñera was re-elected president.^[72] Though personally opposed to same-sex marriage at the time, Piñera said he would respect the April 2015 agreement with the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, saying that "Chile's international commitments will be fulfilled".^[73] In the wake of a January 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling requiring signatory nations to the American Convention on Human Rights to recognize same-sex marriage, MOVILH urged Piñera to implement and abide by the decision.^[74] In early March 2018, a spokesperson for the Piñera Administration announced that passing the same-sex marriage bill would not be a priority, but that the Piñera Government would not veto or oppose it.^[73][75] In early April 2018, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights summoned the Chilean Government to a meeting to discuss the status of the measures included in the agreement reached in April 2015. The meeting took place in the Dominican Republic on 3 May 2018. The government informed the Commission that it would continue to respect the agreement.^[76][77] On 17 May 2018, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Piñera signed the agreement and pledged to continue the work of the previous administration in legalizing same-sex marriage.^[78]

Parliamentary debate and approval

 

President Sebastian Piñera signing the same-sex marriage bill into law on 9 December 2021, making Chile the sixth country in South America to legalize same-sex marriage.

Committee debate on the same-sex marriage bill resumed on 9 January 2019, and continued in May.^[79][80] In May 2019, Senate President Jaime Quintana said that the bill, along with a bill permitting same-sex couples to adopt, would have priority in the Senate agenda.^[81][82] In July 2019, upon assuming his role as chairman of the Constitution Committee, Senator Felipe Harboe began fast-tracking the procedure of the same-sex marriage bill, as opposition parties announced their intention to push for debate in Congress before going into recess in February 2020.^[83] On 15 January 2020, the bill was approved at first reading in the Senate by 22 votes to 16.^[84] In October 2020, it was reported that the Constitution Committee had approved 29 of the articles in the bill, with 27 remaining to be approved.^[85]

On 1 June 2021, during his last annual address to the National Congress, Piñera announced that his government would support the bill and place urgency on bringing it forward to a vote.^[3][4] On 21 July 2021, the Senate approved the legislation by 28 votes to 14. The bill then moved to the Chamber of Deputies.^[86][87] On 13 October 2021, the bill was approved by the Constitution Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, and on 2 November 2021 it was approved by the Finance Committee of the Chamber. On 23 November 2021, the Chamber of Deputies approved an amended version by 101 votes to 30.^[88] As it was modified by the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate Constitution Committee decided to send the bill to a joint committee of both houses.^{[89][90][91][92]} On 6 December, the joint committee voted 7–2 in favor of the Chamber version of the bill with modifications, including a compromise provision that spouses of transgender people wishing to change their name and legal gender should first be consulted as to whether they wish to seek a divorce, which was criticized by MOVILH as "transphobic".^[93]

21 July 2021 vote in the Senate of Chile^[94]

Party	Votes for	Votes against	Abstention	Did not vote
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)	-	8 Claudio Alvarado A. José Miguel Durana S. Luz Eliana Ebensperger O. Alejandro García Huidobro S. Iván Moreira B. David Sandoval P. Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe H. Ena Von Baer J.	-	1 Juan Antonio Coloma C.
National Renewal (RN)	3 Rodrigo Galilea V. Rafael Prohens E. Marcela Sabat F.	4 Juan Castro P. Francisco Chahuán C. José García R. Manuel José Ossandón I.	-	-
Socialist Party of Chile (PS)	7 Isabel Allende B. Alfonso De Urresti L. Alvaro Elizalde S. José Miguel Insulza S. Juan Pablo Letelier M. Carlos Montes C. Rabindranath Quinteros L. (Vice-President of the Senate)	-	-	-
Party for Democracy (PPD)	6 Loreto Carvajal A. Guido Girardi L. Ricardo Lagos W. Adriana Muñoz D`Albora Jaime Quintana L. Jorge Soria Q.	-	-	-
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)	5 Carolina Goic B. Francisco Huenchumilla J. Jorge Pizarro S. Yasna Provoste C. (President of the Senate) Ximena Rincón G.	-	-	-
Evópoli (EP)	1 Felipe Kast S.	-	-	-
Democratic Revolution (RD)	1 Juan Ignacio Latorre R.	-	-	-
Progressive Party (PRO)	1 Alejandro Navarro B.	-	-	-
Independents	4 Pedro Araya G. Carlos Bianchi C. Alejandro Guillier Á. Ximena Órdenes N.	2 Carmen Gloria Aravena A. Kenneth Pugh O.	-	-
Total	28	14	0	1

23 November 2021 vote in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile^[95]

Party	Votes for	Votes against	Abstention	Did not vote
National Renewal (RN)	12 Bernardo Berger Andrés Celis Sofía Cid Jorge Durán Tomás Fuentes Andrés Longton Karin Luck Camilo Morán Paulina Núñez Diego Paulsen Hugo Rey Sebastián Torrealba	16 José Miguel Castro Catalina Del Real Eduardo Durán Francisco Eguiguren Camila Flores René Manuel García Harry Jürgensen Carlos Kuschel Miguel Mellado Francesca Muñoz Ximena Ossandón Leopoldo Pérez Jorge Rathgeb Leonidas Romero Frank Sauerbaum Diego Schalper	1 Aracely Leuquén	4 Gonzalo Fuenzalida Ramón Galleguillos Luis Pardo Alejandro Santana
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)	13 Jorge Alessandri Pedro Pablo Álvarez-Salamanca Nora Cuevas Juan Fuenzalida Sergio Gahona Cristian Labbé Joaquín Lavín Javier Macaya Juan Manuel Masferrer Nicolás Noman Gustavo Sanhueza Renzo Trisotti Osvaldo Urrutia	11 Nino Baltolu Ramón Barros Sergio Bobadilla Juan Antonio Coloma Javier Hernández Cristhian Moreira Iván Norambuena Guillermo Ramírez Rolando Rentería Enrique Van Rysselberghe Gastón Von Mühlenbrock	1 María José Hoffmann	1 Celso Morales
Socialist Party of Chile (PS)	16 Jenny Álvarez Juan Luis Castro Daniella Cicardini Maya Fernández Marcos Ilabaca Raúl Leiva Manuel Monsalve Jaime Naranjo Emilia Nuyado Luis Rocafull Gastón Saavedra Raúl Saldívar Juan Santana Marcelo Schilling Leonardo Soto Jaime Tohá	-	-	1 Fidel Espinoza
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)	7 Gabriel Ascencio Iván Flores José Miguel Ortiz Gabriel Silber Víctor Torres Daniel Verdessi Matías Walker	1 Jorge Sabag	-	4 Miguel Ángel Calisto Manuel Matta Joanna Pérez Mario Venegas
Communist Party of Chile (PCCh)	8 Boris Barrera Karol Cariola Carmen Hertz Amaro Labra Rubén Moraga Marisela Santibáñez Guillermo Teillier Camila Vallejo	-	-	1 Daniel Núñez
Party for Democracy (PPD)	7 Ricardo Celis Cristina Girardi Rodrigo González Tucapel Jiménez Carolina Marzán Andrea Parra Patricia Rubio	-	-	-
Democratic Revolution (RD)	5 Jorge Brito Miguel Crispi Giorgio Jackson Catalina Pérez Marcela Sandoval	-	-	1 Maite Orsini
Evópoli (EP)	5 Luciano Cruz-Coke Pablo Kast Sebastián Keitel Andrés Molina Francisco Undurraga	-	-	1 Sebastián Álvarez
Radical Party of Chile (PR)	2 Cosme Mellado Alexis Sepúlveda	-	-	2 Marcela Hernando José Pérez
Social Convergence (CS)	4 Gabriel Boric Diego Ibáñez Gonzalo Winter Gael Yeomans	-	-	-
Social Green Regionalist Federation (FREVS)	1 Alejandra Sepúlveda	-	-	2 Jaime Mulet Esteban Velásquez
Liberal Party of Chile (PL)	2 Alejandro Bernales Vlado Mirosevic	-	-	-
Commons	1 Camila Rojas	-	-	1 Claudia Mix
Republican Party (PLR)	-	2 Ignacio Urrutia Cristóbal Urruticoechea	-	-
Humanist Party (PH)	1 Pamela Jiles	-	-	-
Green Ecologist Party (PEV)	1 Félix González	-	-	-
Independents	16 Florcita Alarcón Pepe Auth Karim Bianchi Álvaro Carter Natalia Castillo Marcelo Díaz Tomás Hirsch Carlos Abel Jarpa Pablo Lorenzini Erika Olivera Pablo Prieto Patricio Rosas René Saffirio Raúl Soto Virginia Troncoso Pablo Vidal	-	-	4 René Alinco Sandra Amar Fernando Meza Pedro Velásquez
Total	101	30	2	22

Finally, the joint committee's bill was passed by both houses on 7 December 2021, with the Senate voting 21–8 with 3 absentions and the Chamber voting 82–20 with 2 absentions.^[5][6] The bill was signed by Piñera on 9 December.^[7] It was published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 10 December, and took effect 90 days later (i.e. 10 March 2022).^[1]

7 December 2021 vote in the Senate of Chile^[96][97]

Party	Votes for	Votes against	Abstention	Did not vote
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)	-	3 Juan Antonio Coloma C. José Miguel Durana S. Luz Eliana Ebensperger O.	3 Claudio Alvarado A. Alejandro García Huidobro S. David Sandoval P.	3 Iván Moreira B. Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe H. Ena Von Baer J.
National Renewal (RN)	2 Rodrigo Galilea V. Rafael Prohens E.	4 Juan Castro P. Francisco Chahuán C. José García R. Manuel José Ossandón I.	-	1 Marcela Sabat F.
Socialist Party of Chile (PS)	5 Isabel Allende B. Alfonso De Urresti L. Alvaro Elizalde S. José Miguel Insulza S. Carlos Montes C.	-	-	2 Juan Pablo Letelier M. Rabindranath Quinteros L.
Party for Democracy (PPD)	4 Loreto Carvajal A. Guido Girardi L. Adriana Muñoz D`Albora Jaime Quintana L.	-	-	2 Ricardo Lagos W. Jorge Soria Q.
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)	4 Francisco Huenchumilla J. Jorge Pizarro S. Yasna Provoste C. Ximena Rincón G.	-	-	1 Carolina Goic B.
Evópoli (EP)	1 Felipe Kast S.	-	-	-
Democratic Revolution (RD)	1 Juan Ignacio Latorre R.	-	-	-
Progressive Party (PRO)	-	-	-	1 Alejandro Navarro B.
Independents	4 Pedro Araya G. Carlos Bianchi C. Alejandro Guillier Á. Ximena Órdenes N.	1 Carmen Gloria Aravena A.	-	1 Kenneth Pugh O.
Total	21	8	3	11

7 December 2021 vote in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile^[98][99]

Party	Votes for	Votes against	Abstention	Did not vote
National Renewal (RN)	11 Andrés Celis Tomás Fuentes Gonzalo Fuenzalida Ramón Galleguillos Andrés Longton Karin Luck Camilo Morán Paulina Núñez Jorge Rathgeb Hugo Rey Sebastián Torrealba	7 Francisco Eguiguren Carlos Kuschel Miguel Mellado Francesca Muñoz Luis Pardo Leopoldo Pérez Frank Sauerbaum	-	13 José Miguel Castro Sofía Cid Catalina Del Real Jorge Durán Eduardo Durán Camila Flores René Manuel García Aracely Leuquén Ximena Ossandón Diego Paulsen Leonidas Romero Alejandro Santana Diego Schalper
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)	8 Jorge Alessandri Nora Cuevas Sergio Gahona Cristian Labbé Juan Manuel Masferrer Nicolás Noman Gustavo Sanhueza Osvaldo Urrutia	8 Nino Baltolu Juan Antonio Coloma Javier Hernández Cristhian Moreira Iván Norambuena Guillermo Ramírez Renzo Trisotti Gastón Von Mühlenbrock	2 María José Hoffmann Celso Morales	8 Pedro Pablo Álvarez-Salamanca Ramón Barros Sergio Bobadilla Juan Fuenzalida Joaquín Lavín Javier Macaya Rolando Rentería Enrique Van Rysselberghe
Socialist Party of Chile (PS)	15 Jenny Álvarez Daniella Cicardini Maya Fernández Marcos Ilabaca Raúl Leiva Manuel Monsalve Jaime Naranjo Emilia Nuyado Luis Rocafull Gastón Saavedra Raúl Saldívar Juan Santana Marcelo Schilling Leonardo Soto Jaime Tohá	-	-	2 Juan Luis Castro Fidel Espinoza
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)	7 Gabriel Ascencio Iván Flores José Miguel Ortiz Gabriel Silber Víctor Torres Daniel Verdessi Matías Walker	1 Jorge Sabag	-	4 Miguel Ángel Calisto Manuel Matta Joanna Pérez Mario Venegas
Communist Party of Chile (PCCh)	7 Boris Barrera Karol Cariola Amaro Labra Rubén Moraga Daniel Núñez Guillermo Teillier Camila Vallejo	-	-	2 Carmen Hertz Marisela Santibáñez
Party for Democracy (PPD)	4 Ricardo Celis Cristina Girardi Tucapel Jiménez Patricia Rubio	-	-	3 Rodrigo González Carolina Marzán Andrea Parra
Democratic Revolution (RD)	5 Jorge Brito Miguel Crispi Maite Orsini Catalina Pérez Marcela Sandoval	-	-	1 Giorgio Jackson
Evópoli (EP)	3 Luciano Cruz-Coke Sebastián Keitel Francisco Undurraga	-	-	3 Sebastián Álvarez Pablo Kast Andrés Molina
Radical Party of Chile (PR)	2 Marcela Hernando Alexis Sepúlveda	1 José Pérez	-	1 Cosme Mellado
Social Convergence (CS)	3 Diego Ibáñez Gonzalo Winter Gael Yeomans	-	-	1 Gabriel Boric
Social Green Regionalist Federation (FREVS)	1 Jaime Mulet	-	-	2 Alejandra Sepúlveda Esteban Velásquez
Liberal Party of Chile (PL)	1 Alejandro Bernales	-	-	1 Vlado Mirosevic
Commons	2 Claudia Mix Camila Rojas	-	-	-
Republican Party (PLR)	-	2 Ignacio Urrutia Cristóbal Urruticoechea	-	-
Humanist Party (PH)	1 Pamela Jiles	-	-	-
Green Ecologist Party (PEV)	1 Félix González	-	-	-
Independents	11 Florcita Alarcón (IND-OP) Bernardo Berger (IND-OF) Pepe Auth (IND-OP) Natalia Castillo (IND-OP) Marcelo Díaz (IND-OP) Tomás Hirsch (IND-OP) Carlos Abel Jarpa (IND-OP) Pablo Lorenzini (IND-OP) Fernando Meza (IND-OP) Patricio Rosas (IND-OP) Pablo Vidal (IND-OP)	1 Harry Jürgensen (IND-OF)	-	10 René Alinco (IND-OP) Sandra Amar (IND-OF) Karim Bianchi (IND-OP) Álvaro Carter (IND-OF) Erika Olivera (IND-OF) Pablo Prieto (IND-OF) René Saffirio (IND-OP) Raúl Soto (IND-OP) Virginia Troncoso (IND-OF) Pedro Velásquez (IND-OP)
Total	82	20	2	51

Attempts to modify constitution

In response to the proposed legislation to recognize same-sex unions and potential legal battles brewing in the Constitutional Court, members of the Independent Democrat Union (UDI) introduced a constitutional amendment on 11 August 2011 seeking to define marriage as the "union of a man and a woman".^[100] The amendment was not brought to a vote. On 16 June 2016, two UDI MPs introduced a bill to amend the Constitution of Chile to ban same-sex marriage and prohibit same-sex couples from adopting.^[101] The measure was not successful.

In October 2020, Chile voted in a national plebiscite to rewrite its constitution. In a May 2021 election, voters elected the members of the Constitutional Convention, the body tasked with writing the new constitution.^[102] LGBT groups were hopeful that same-sex marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples would be enshrined in this new constitution,^[103] particularly as the right-wing governing coalition Chile Vamos had failed to reach the third of members needed to veto in the Convention. The proposed constitution, which eventually did not address same-sex marriage explicitly, was rejected in a referendum in September 2022.

Statistics

In the first month following the entry into force of the marriage law, 170 same-sex couples had gotten married in Chile, of which 101 were lesbian couples.^[104] By February 10, 2023, 2,254 same-sex marriages had been performed in Chile; 1,227 between two women and 1,027 between two men.^[105]

Public opinion

Evolution of public opinion in Chile regarding same-sex marriage, 2014-2021. The graph shows the percentage of people agreeing to the question: "Do you agree or disagree that same-sex couples should have the right to marry?", according to Cadem Plaza Pública.^[106]

An April 2009 poll concluded that only 33.2% of Chileans were in favor of allowing same-sex couples to marry, with 65.2% opposed.^[107] However, support among young people was much higher: according to a study by the National Youth Institute of Chile, 56% of people aged between 15 and 29 supported same-sex marriage, while 51.3% supported adoption by same-sex couples.^[108][109]

A July 2011 nationwide CEP (Centro de Estudios Públicos) poll found that 52% of Chileans were in favor of granting legal rights to same-sex unions: 18% supported granting civil marriage to same-sex couples, while 34% preferred giving same-sex couples a "legal union". When the question was slightly rephrased, 57% of Chileans were against same-sex marriage where "the same rights as a heterosexual couple are guaranteed" and 27% in favor, while support for a "legal union" of same-sex couples was higher at 35%, with 57% against. In all questions, support for same-sex unions was higher among the younger and better educated. In the case of the adoption of children by a lesbian couple, 24% were in favor and 61% against. Support was lower for male gay couples: 20% in favor and 64% against.^[110]

An August 2012 poll by Radio Cooperativa – Imaginaccion found that 54.9% of Chileans supported same-sex marriage, while 40.7% were opposed.^[111] A Pew Research Center survey conducted the following year showed that 46% of Chileans supported same-sex marriage, while 42% were opposed.^[112][113] According to a 2014 survey by the Chilean pollster Cadem Plaza Pública, 55% of Chileans were in favor of same-sex marriage, whilst 39% were against.^[114] A poll carried out in September 2015 by the same polling organization found that 60% of Chileans supported same-sex marriage, whereas opposition was at 36%.^[115] The organization's 2016 survey found 61% support and 36% opposition.^[116] A further poll carried out in July 2017 by the same organization showed that support stood at 61% and opposition at 32%.^[117]

A 2016 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study poll, published in April 2018, found that 79% of Chilean eighth graders (13–14-year-olds) supported same-sex marriage. The study also included four other Latin American countries, of which Chile had the highest level of support: Mexico was at 78%, Colombia at 63%, Peru at 48%, and the Dominican Republic at 38%. Chile's support was a 21% increase from 2009.^[118]

The 2017 AmericasBarometer showed that 59% of Chileans supported same-sex marriage.^[119] A poll conducted for Radio Cooperativa – Imaginaccion between 24 and 27 August 2017 found that 62.2% of Chileans supported same-sex marriage, while 34.8% were against. In the same poll, 47% supported adoption by same-sex couples, while 51.2% were opposed.^[120]

A poll carried out by Cadem Plaza Pública in April 2018 put support for same-sex marriage at 64% and opposition at 34%, while 2% were unsure or had refused to answer.^[121] Support and opposition to adoption rights both stood at 49%. In 2019, the organization showed that support for same-sex marriage had increased to 66%, with 54% also in favor of permitting same-sex couples to adopt.^[122] In 2022, support for same-sex marriage reached 82% and support for adoption rights reached 70%.^[123]

See also

• LGBT rights in Chile
• Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
• Same-sex union court cases
• Polygamy in Mapuche culture

Notes

1. Spanish: tribunales de familia;^[35] Mapudungun: norümpeyüm reñma;^[36] Aymara: wilamasinakar arxatir uta;^[37] Quechua: yawar masikunamanta apukuna;^[38] Rapa Nui: hare ture o te hua'ai.^[39]

References

1. "Ley número 21.400.- Modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo" (PDF). Diario Oficial de la República de Chile. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
2. Chambers, Jane (10 March 2022). "Chile couples' joy as first same-sex marriages held". BBC. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
3. "Chile's Pinera to push same-sex marriage bill long stuck in Congress". Reuters. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
4. Jara, Alejandra; Soto, Claudia (2021-06-01). "Piñera anuncia urgencia a proyecto de matrimonio igualitario: "Debemos profundizar sobre el valor de la libertad, incluyendo la libertad de amar"". La Tercera. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
5. Bonnefoy, Pascale; Londoño, Ernesto (2021-12-07). "Chile Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage at Fraught Political Moment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
6. Fuentes, Valentina (2021-12-07). "Chile Legalizes Gay Marriage in Landmark Vote Ahead of Elections". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
7. "Presidente Piñera promulga Ley de Matrimonio Igualitario: "Es un día histórico"". T13. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
8. "Avanza un proyecto que permite el matrimonio igualitario en Chile". cnnespanol.cnn.com/. CNN en Español. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021. De ser aprobada en el Senado, la ley comenzará a regir noventa días después de su publicación en el Diario Oficial.
9. "Same-Sex Marriage Around the World". Pew Research Center. 17 May 2019. from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
10. "CHILE: Law on Civil Union for Gays Within Reach". IPS News. 2006-05-17. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
11. . Agmagazine.info. 2009-10-14. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
12. "Chile's elections: "Who gets the gay vote?"". globalpost. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
13. . La Tercera (newspaper). 2010-06-13. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
14. "Chile Senator Fulvio Rossi Introduces Gay Marriage Bill". Ontopmag.com. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
15. Payne, Johnny (29 May 2011). "Chile set to allow gay civil unions". PinkPaper.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
16. "Chile President Sebastian Pinera proposed civil unions". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
17. "Acuerdo de vida en común": Conoce de qué se trata este proyecto de ley (in Spanish) El Vacanudo. 12-08-2011.
18. . Senado. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
19. Draft law establishing and regulating the Life Partner Agreement, Government of Chile
20. "Chile civil unions bill advances". Washington Blade. 2014-01-07.
21. . Santiago Times. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014.
22. "Chilean Senate committee approves civil unions bill". Washington Blade. 5 August 2014.
23. Chilean Senate advances civil unions bill
24. "Otorgan suma urgencia al AVP y le cambian el nombre por Pacto de Unión Civil (PUC)". MOVILH. 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
25. Comisión de Constitución de la Cámara despacha el Pacto de Unión Civil limitando los derechos de hijos e hijas
26. (in Spanish) Pacto de Unión Civil: Senado rechaza texto aprobado por la Cámara para zanjar disensos en comisión mixta
27. Esposito, Anthony. "Socially-conservative Chile approves civil unions". Reuters. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
28. (in Spanish) Comisión mixta concluye revisión de proyecto de Unión Civil: Mañana se vota en la Cámara y el Senado
29. "Chilean court upholds constitutionality of civil unions bill". The Washington Blade. 6 April 2015.
30. Chilean president signs civil unions bill
31. Chilean president signs same-sex civil union law
32. Michael Lavers (22 October 2015). "Chile civil unions law takes effect". Washington Blade.
33. (in Spanish) Acuerdo de Unión Civil
34. (in Spanish) Ley número 20.830. - Crea el Acuerdo de Unión Civil
35. "Acuerdo Unión Civil". Registro Civil (in Spanish).
36. "Pichikunuel chi zugu, tüfa chi chillka mew" (PDF). INDH. 2017.
37. "Wilamasinakar arxatir uta" (PDF). Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Aymara).
38. "Yawar masikunamanta apukuna" (PDF). Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Quechua).
39. "Hare ture o te hua'ai" (PDF). Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Rapanui).
40. "Chile civil union law comes into force". BBC News. 23 October 2015.
41. "Un mapuche y un pascuense serán la primera pareja originaria en firmar el AUC". 24 Horas (in Spanish). 1 September 2015.
42. "Cámara de Diputados de Chile". www.camara.cl. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
43. "Cámara de Diputados de Chile. Trabajo en sala: Detalle de Votación". www.camara.cl. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
44. "Avanza proyecto para que trabajadores que celebren Acuerdo de Unión Civil tengan derecho a cinco días libres" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2016.
45. (in Spanish) Tema: Proyecto de ley, en segundo trámite constitucional, que modifica el Código del Trabajo, con el objeto de aplicar al trabajador que celebra un acuerdo de unión civil el permiso laboral que se otorga a quien contrae matrimonio.
46. "Ley 21042 Aplica Al Trabajador Que Celebra Un Acuerdo de Unión Civil El Permison Laboral Que Se Otorga a Quien Contrae Matrimonio". Ley Chile - Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional. 8 November 2017.
47. "Anuario de estadísticas vitales 2019" (XLSX). Estadísticas Vitales. Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-10. 1.2.2.4. Series Matrimonios" and "1.2.2.5 Series AUC
48. "Chile's same-sex marriage debate reaches Constitutional Court". Santiagotimes.cl. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
49. "Chile court rejects gay marriage appeal". IOL. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
50. (in Spanish). El Ciudadano. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
51. (in Spanish) La Corte Suprema de Chile reconoce el matrimonio como un Derecho Humano
52. "Pareja homosexual presentará recurso de protección por rechazo del Registro Civil de conceder hora para matrimonio". La Tercera (in Spanish). 15 January 2019.
53. "Corte rechaza recurso: Autores de "Nicolás tiene dos papás" no pueden casarse". The Times Chile (in Spanish). 29 April 2019.
54. "Autores de "Nicolás tiene dos papás" recurren a la Corte Suprema para casarse". El Dínamo (in Spanish). 8 May 2019.
55. "Bachelet quiere legalizar aborto y matrimonio igualitario en Chile". Aciprensa.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
56. "El proyecto de ley de matrimonio igualitario llega al Parlamento de Chile". Cáscara Amarga. 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
57. Chilean government to end opposition to same-sex marriage (Washington Blade - February 18 2015)
58. (in Spanish) Gobierno reconoce la prohibición del matrimonio igualitario como una violación a los DDHH
59. Matrimonio Igualitario: Ejecutivo define cronograma para envío de proyecto
60. "Chile's President Plans to Send Gay Marriage Bill to Congress in 2017". VOA & Reuters. 21 September 2016.
61. "Chile president pledge new infrastructure, gay marriage in final year". The Himalayan Times & Reuters. 2 June 2017.
62. "Gobierno confirma ley de matrimonio igualitario con adopción homoparental". biobiochile.cl (in Spanish). 22 August 2017.
63. . NBC News. Reuters. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
64. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
65. "Modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo". Chamber of Deputies of Chile. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
66. Paz Nuñez, María (5 September 2017). . Tele13. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
67. ¿Cómo va la discusión del Matrimonio Igualitario?
68. Nuevo Congreso Nacional: mayoría apoya la plena igualdad de derechos para las personas LGBTI
69. Chilean lawmakers begin debate on same-sex marriage bill The Washington Blade, 27 November 2017
70. (in Spanish) Matrimonio igualitario: Este lunes inicia su discusión en el Congreso
71. (in Spanish) Chile: Protesta masiva a favor del matrimonio homosexual
72. Will Chile Be the First Nation to Win Marriage Equality in 2018?
73. (in Spanish) Movilh achieves commitment to command Sebastián Piñera to respect an equal marriage project
74. MOVILH: Nueva Resolución de La CIDH Obliga a Piñera a Aprobar Identidad de Género
75. New Chilean government says they won't "prioritise" legalising same-sex marriage, GayTimes, 3 March 2018
76. (in Spanish) Gobierno mantendrá acuerdo pro derechos LGBTI que el Estado firmó con MovilH ante la CIDH, El Mostrador, 30 April 2018
77. (in Spanish) Comisión Interamericana cita al gobierno a informar por matrimonio igualitario
78. (in Spanish) Gobierno de Sebastián Piñera firmará acuerdo internacional sobre matrimonio igualitario con el Movilh e iluminará La Moneda
79. (in Spanish) Senado reactiva discusión sobre el matrimonio igualitario
80. "Harboe compromete aprobar en mayo idea de legislar matrimonio igualitario". El Periodista (in Spanish). 15 April 2019.
81. "Presidente del Senado anuncia prioridad para proyectos de matrimonio igualitario y adopción homoparental". El Desconcierto (in Spanish). 14 May 2019.
82. "Presidente del Senado anuncia prioridad para matrimonio igualitario y adopción homoparental". Radio Bío-Bío (in Spanish). 14 May 2019.
83. Caro, Isabela (14 July 2019). "Agenda legislativa: Los debates que marcarán el segundo semestre". La Tercera (in Spanish).
84. "Senado aprueba en general el proyecto de ley de matrimonio igualitario". Diario y Radio U de Chile (in Spanish). 15 January 2020.
85. Badham, Rachel (26 October 2020). "Chile moving to legalise same-sex marriage". G Scene. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
86. "Chile senators approve gay marriage bill; one step left". AFP. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
87. "Chile is one step away from approving long-awaited same-sex marriage". The Rio Times. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
88. "Chile da el penúltimo paso hacia la aprobación del matrimonio igualitario".
89. "Matrimonio igualitario podría ser ley el próximo martes: Proyecto pasó a Comisión Mixta". 30 November 2021.
90. "Matrimonio igualitario avanza en la Cámara de Diputados tras ser aprobado por comisión de Hacienda". 2 November 2021.
91. "Approval of same-sex marriage in Chile advances with another victory in Chamber of Deputies". The Rio Times. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
92. "Recta final: Sala del Senado votará el matrimonio igualitario el martes 30 de noviembre – Movilh Chile".
93. Vergonzoso: Comisión Mixta aprueba de mandera unánime que se consulte al cónyuge de la persona trans si quiere divorciarse o no cuando su pareja cambia de nombre y sexo legal. / ¿Por qué hacer una mención especial a identidad a género para los divorcios? ¡Transfobia encubierta!, Movilh Chile on Twitter
94. "Sesión: 55 / 369 Miércoles 21 de Julio de 2021 a las 11:40 (Tema: Aprobación de los artículos relativos al matrimonio de personas del mismo sexo respecto de los cuales se pidió votación separada del proyecto de ley que modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo (discusión en particular). (Boletín N° 11.422-07). Con urgencia calificada de suma.)". Senado de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2021.
95. "Sesión n°101, Ordinaria del 23 Nov 2021 a las 10:13hrs. (Materia: Modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo.) (Proyecto Ley: 11422-07)". Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2021.
96. "Sesión: 103 / 369 Martes 7 de Diciembre de 2021 a las 12:29 (Tema: Aprobación del informe de la Comisión Mixta, constituida para resolver las divergencias suscitadas entre ambas Cámaras durante la tramitación del proyecto de ley que modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo. (Boletín Nº 11.422-07). Con urgencia calificada de discusión inmediata.)". Senado de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2021.
97. "Cómo votaron los senadores al aprobar proyecto que permite el matrimonio igualitario". Emol.com (in Spanish). 7 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
98. "Sesión n°108, Ordinaria del 07 Dec 2021 a las 10:14hrs. (Materia: Modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo.) (Artículo: Proposición de la Comisión Mixta recaída en el proyecto de ley, originado en mensaje, que "Modifica diversos cuerpos legales para regular, en igualdad de condiciones, el matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo.") (Proyecto Ley: 11422-07)". Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2021.
99. "CCómo votaron los diputados al aprobar proyecto de matrimonio igualitario que ya se convertirá en ley". Emol.com (in Spanish). 7 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
100. "Chile Introduces Constitutional Gay Marriage Ban Amendment". Ontopmag.com. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
101. (in Spanish) Proyectos de Ley Modifica la Carta Fundamental para establecer que el matrimonio solo puede celebrarse entre un hombre y una mujer, y prohibir la adopción homoparental
102. Bartlett, John (18 May 2021). "'A new Chile': political elite rejected in vote for constitutional assembly". The Guardian. Santiago.
103. "Alessia Injoque: "Esperamos que en la nueva Constitución se establezca con claridad el principio de igualdad y no discriminación"". Diario y Radio U Chile (in Spanish). 20 December 2020.
104. "Matrimonio igualitario: 101 de las 170 parejas que han celebrado su unión son mujeres". El Mostrador (in Spanish). 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
105. (PDF). MOVILH. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2023.
106. "Encuesta Plaza Pública - Primera semana de junio - Estudio Nº 386" (PDF). CADEM (in Spanish). 2021-06-07. p. 19. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
107. "Most Chileans Reject Same-sex Marriage". Angus-reid.com. 2009-04-03. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
108. . Ipsnoticias.net. 2009-06-25. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
109. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
110. . Cepchile.cl. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
111. "Gran avance: 54.9 por ciento apoya en Chile el matrimonio igualitario". MOVILH. 2012-08-29.
112. Religion in Latin America Chapter 5: Social Attitudes
113. Religion in Latin America Appendix A: Methodology
114. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
115. Track semanal de Opinión Pública 07 Septiembre 2015 Estudio Nº 86 2017-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
116. Marchand, Esteban (1 February 2016). . Sin Etiquetas. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
117. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
118. Young People's Views of Government, Peaceful Coexistence, and Diversity in Five Latin American Countries
119. (in Spanish) Cultura Política de La Democracia en La República Dominicana y en Las Américas, 2016/17
120. . 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
121. (PDF). Plaza Pública-Cadem. pp. 17, 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
122. "El 66% de las personas en Chile apoyan el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo según la encuesta Cadem". El Naveghable (in Spanish). 28 August 2019.
123. "CADEM: 74% Respalda Matrimonio Gay y el 72% Aprueba la Eutanasia" (PDF). La Nación (in Spanish). 4 January 2021.