July 17, 2015
LGBT activists celebrate in the streets of San Juan. | Photo: Twitter
Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced on Friday that the island, which is a U.S. commonwealth, will also follow the Supreme Court’s historical decision that brought same-sex marriage to all 50 states.
The announcement comes after the anti-independent and ultra conservative New Progressive Party presented an emergency lawsuit in order to ban sex-same civil unions. However, last week two judges ruled that the ban was unconstitutional.
The governor’s news was celebrated by dozens of peoples in the streets of the island’s capital San Juan, while officials said at least 10 marriage certificates have been issued so far and that unions held in other states are now being recognized.
LGBT activists said this announcement also opens the door for adoptions by same-sex couples, either inside or outside the island.
The U.S. commonwealth status provides Puerto Rico certain autonomy, but people in the island have U.S citizenship and their law is attached to the federal law, on the other hand public opposition still exists due, in large part, to the strong influence of the Catholic Church, as well as socially conservative Protestants.
Source: Telesur