Activists In Paraguay Optimistic About Upcoming Gay Marriage Debate

BY CARLOS SANTOSCOY 
PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 05, 2010

Supporters of gay marriage in Paraguay say they have a good chance

 of having the legislation approved.

The debate on whether to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the 

Roman Catholic stronghold kicked off Saturday with two large

 demonstrations.

Opponents of marriage equality protested at town squares throughout 

the nation, while advocates gathered in front of the Pantheon of Heroes, Asuncion's memorial to the country's fallen soldiers, to urge Paraguayans

 to support gay marriage.

The gay rights group SOMOSGAY (we are gay) will present the gay marriage

 bill to legislators this month. Opposition, however, began mobilizing just

 days after neighboring Argentina approved a similar law in July.

“We are going to put out an intense educational campaign on Christian 

values, to avoid the law of marriage between people of the same sex

 that was approved in Argentina from coming to Paraguay,” Bishop

 Adalberto Martinez of San Pedo toldLa Nation.

The church is backing the campaign Queremos Papa y Mama (We want a

 mother and a father), which sponsored Saturday's anti-gay marriage Festival

 Por La Vida Y La Familia (Festival For Life & Family).

SOMOSGAY President Simon Cazal said that while his group will present the 

gay marriage bill this month, lawmakers aren't expected to take up the bill 

until early next year. “There is a possibility that it'll be approved,” Cazal told 

On Top Magazine in an email.