10/08/2011 12:02
Sebastian Pinera offers to legalize gay unions
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has proposed legislation which would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions and enjoy many of the same rights as heterosexual couples.
If approved by Congress, the bill will give homosexual couples the same inheritance and social welfare rights as married partners.
Gay right activists welcomed the move.
But leaders of the president's centre-right coalition refused to attend the proposal's signing ceremony, BBC said.