Ecuador has voted in favor of marriage equality in a landmark ruling today (12 June).

Confirming the hopes of local activists, the country’s Constitutional Court has ruled to legalize same-sex marriage in the whole country.

The case was about whether the Inter-American Court Ruling that recognized same-sex marriage compels Ecuador to legalize same-sex marriage.

The highest court in Ecuador previously postponed its ruling on same-sex marriage on 4 June.

Judges of the Constitutional Tribunal of Ecuador met for several hours regarding the matter. On Twitter, however, the Court reported the judges were not able to come to a decision.

‘The Constitutional Court, after meeting several hours, did not come to a decision regarding the consultation of Norma, referred by the criminal Court of the Provincial Courts of Justice of Pichincha, in the case of equal marriage,’ the tweet read.

In 1998, Ecuador became one of the first countries in the world to constitutionally ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.

According to Article 67 of the Ecuadorian Constitution adopted in 2008 establish marriage is the union of a man and a woman.

However, Article 68 provides that stable same-sex couples shall enjoy the same rights and obligations as married couples, except for adoption.

The South American country had started hearing arguments for and against marriage equality in April 2019.

A gay couple of 12 years is at the forefront of the movement trying to put pressure on authorities.

Efraín Soria and Javier Benalcázar have tried to legally marry for years. After the Civil Registry rejected their application for a marriage licence last year, they took the matter to the Provincial Court of Justice of Pichincha.

Soria appeared before the Constitutional Court back in March 2019.

‘Today is a historic day, not only for Efrain and Javier, but for Ecuador as a whole,’ LGBTI activist Freddy Veloz Baez said after the ruling.

‘The Constitutional Court has stood on the right side of history and recognized that all Ecuadorians deserve the same rights, no matter our sexual orientation or gender identity.’

He furthermore added: ‘This fight started in 2013 and could have never be achieved without all the couples that stood against bigotry and decided to protest the Government’s lack of respect for their dignity and rights as citizens. There is still a long road ahead in order to end homophobia in our society, but today we celebrate. For all the couples that will be able to marry and for the future generations, this will be a day to be remembered.’

Pamela Troya and her partner Gabriela Correa were also among the first LGBTI activists campaigning for marriage equality in 2013.

‘This picture was taken on 5 August 2013, when @Gaby3081 and I appeared at the @RegistroCivilec to get married and our request was denied, marking the beginning of a lengthy battle,’ the activist wrote in March 2019.

She furthermore added: ‘Today, nearly six years after that day, we’re finally about to get marriage equality.’

Following today’s ruling, she tweeted: ‘I have no words, I don’t know how to express it. This is unbelievable … we’re going to get married.’

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in January 2018 that countries should treat same-sex couples ‘without discrimination’.

This court is an autonomous judicial institution based in the city of San José, Costa Rica. Most Latin American and a few Caribbean countries are among the members.

The ruling had a positive effect with Costa Rica vowing to legalize same-sex marriage. Courts in Ecuador also ruled that banning same-sex marriage was illegal.

After the ruling, a number of couples applied in courts to tie the knot. Eight same-sex marriage cases are currently ongoing in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, according to El Comercio.

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