Ecuador recognises same-sex unions on national ID cards
Same-sex couples in Ecuador have taken another step toward equality, as civil unions will now be included on national identification cards.
Despite same-sex marriage still being illegal, civil unions were introduced in Ecuador in 2008.
President Rafael Correa made the announcement that same-sex couples in civil unions will now be allowed to include their unions on the ID.
He said: “Gays, lesbians, transgender and transsexual people have the full constitutional right to include their civil union on their ID cards.”
Until this change, only opposite-sex marriages were listed on national IDs.
The President continued: “If there was any doubt about heterosexual or same-sex civil unions being put on national ID cards, there is none any more.”
He stopped short of supporting same-sex marriage, however, saying: “I have never offered to support” equal marriage. Ecuador is mostly a Catholic nation, including President Correa.
The constitution of Ecuador currently states that marriage is between one man and one woman, and that only straight couples can adopt.
