Guatemala’s Congress has ditched plans to ban same-sex marriage and the teaching that “anything other than heterosexuality is normal” in schools.
It comes after fierce backlash to the Protection of Life and Family law being passed by 160 votes in favour to just eight votes against on 8 March.
To come into effect, Alejandro Giammattei, Guatemala’s president and a conservative, had to give it his signature – though he stunned supporters of the legislation when he threatened to veto it.
President Giammattei stated that the law was a violation of the country’s constitution, as well as international agreements that Guatemala is aligned with.