Chile is set to approve gay civil unions

Politicians in Chile earlier this week voted in favour of legalising same-sex civil unions.

A bill to allow the unions was approved by 86 legislators in the Chamber of Deputies, with only 23 voting against it, and two abstentions.

A spokesman for the Government Alvaro Elizalde said: “This is a law that does not discriminate and it gives protection to all couples and families in the country.”

LGBT activists in Chile still call for same-sex marriage to be legalised, but many have welcomed the step in the right direction that is civil unions.

The bill will now go to the country’s Senate for a final vote.