01/21/2008
Gay Argentinians Cesar Cigliutti and Marcelo Suntheim Wed in Spain
Cesar Cigliutti and Marcelo Suntheim, two of Argentina's leading gay activists, are making international headlines for marrying in Spain today because their home country won't let them. They plan to campaign for legal recognition of their marriage when they return to Argentina.
This is the bizarre photo of the couple published by Spain's newspaper El País. Isn't it romantic? I can't think anything I'd rather do after my gay wedding than troll the streets of Madrid looking at billboards of scantily clad women.
The AP reports: "Cigliutti and Marcelo Suntheim were able to wed because Suntheim has dual citizenship in Argentina and Germany – allowing him to marry within the European Union. Spain began allowing same-sex marriages in 2005, granting gay couples the same rights as heterosexual ones to marry, adopt children and inherit each other's property. Although Argentina does not recognize gay marriage, the Buenos Aires legislature approved a law in 2002 permitting same-sex civil unions, granting gay couples in the Argentine capital economic and family rights similar to those of heterosexual couples. Mexico City and some Mexican and Brazilian states also recognized these unions. Uruguay alone in Latin America legalized them nationwide."
Posted 4:30 PM EST by Andy Towle in Argentina, Gay Marriage, News, Spain | Permalink
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something must really be done to protect newly wed homosexuals from encountering life-sized posters of spanish women in their undies... i need a drink... sangria, please... and make it a double!
Posted by: the queen | Jan 21, 2008 4:47:46 PM
it is a crying shame that countries whom we feel superior to (and isn't that all the other countries on the planat?) are leading the way to equal rights for all? this so-called land of the free needs to do some serious soul-searching. i'm thinking that that might happen between now and nov '08.
Posted by: nic | Jan 21, 2008 5:40:30 PM
Congrats to the newly weds!
Before my gay card expires, I just want to suggest that it's OK to appreciate female beauty and art. And it's OK to smile when something of beauty comes before you. Just because I don't want to have sex with women doesn't mean I don't appreciate their beauty.
Posted by: Fred | Jan 21, 2008 6:24:29 PM
I don't understand why the article says that they were able to marry in Spain because one of the men has dual Argenetine/Germany citizenship.
First of all, Spain's marriage law has nothing to do with German or European Union citizens (two Polish/Greek/Latvian people of the same sex can marry in Spain but their marriage is invalid in their home countries in spite of the fact they are EU members) and secondly, as I understand it, people from ANY country can marry in Spain. They don't have to be citizens of Spain or any other European country.
Posted by: ZEKE | Jan 21, 2008 6:45:15 PM
One more observation. These guys are top gay rights leaders in Argentina and they chose Egypt for their honeymoon; a country with deplorable legal, cultural and social oppression of gay people? What, was Jamaica/Nigeria/Latvia/Russia/Saudi Arabia/Iran not available to take their money and support? If they wanted to honeymoon in Africa maybe they should have considered going to an African country that actually supports legal gay marriage, South Africa.
I've never understood how gay people go to extremely homophobic countries to celebrate their marriages. When I got married I wouldn't even honeymoon in the UNITED STATES out of protest! For the life of me I don't understand why gay people want to support people, businesses or countries that don't support them.
I would at least expect national gay leaders to appreciate why it's important to support and give our money to those who support us.
I congratulate these guys and wish them all the best but I hope they set better examples at home than they do when honeymooning.
Posted by: ZEKE | Jan 21, 2008 7:48:49 PM
Many Arabs are anti-gay in the same way Republicans are anti-gay. They denounce it as "evil" in the morning, then secretly engage in it after dark.
Besides, I think banning the entire United States is a bit premature. We simply defy simple explanation. We have some of the most progressive, open cities on the planet. Unfortunately, we also have plenty of villagers with pitchforks and torches.
You go to New York City or San Francisco, and you can hardly believe those cities are on the same planet as Lubbock, TX. To say nothing of being part of the same nation-state.
Posted by: John | Jan 21, 2008 8:15:00 PM
Indeed; not a good idea to go talking about your dual nationality. Germany is one of those countries that doesn't allow it, and they'll strip you of it if they become aware of it.
Posted by: Lia | Jan 21, 2008 9:44:38 PM
You did mean "stroll" down the streets, not troll down the streets, I hope. The latter does not do this couple justice.
And, John, ancient Sparta (378 BC) had various city-states that allowed the sacred band of Thebes and other military armies to enjoy daddy/boy-type warrior couplings and yet others which banned it outright - all in the same country, many less than 10 miles apart. My how times havn't changed.
Posted by: johnny | Jan 21, 2008 11:32:47 PM
I was in Argentina - the gay community there is vibrant and active.
The country does recognize same sex unions.
The word Marriage seems to only be referred to Hetero-unions - and will not be used for same sex unions (at this time). But one day!
www.urbanswirl.com/travel/
Posted by: CMg | Jan 21, 2008 11:41:38 PM
To be honest, I think it'd be more fuss and negative publicity than it'd be worth for Germany to strip him of it. Also, as I understand it, the issue with getting married in Spain is more a case of needing to have one partner Spanish or both having a certain amount of time resident there. This is according to wikipedia, anyway. Perhaps... they got into the EU easier because of his German nationality, and then they spent a while living in Spain, got resident status, and then married, and then came back to Argentina. I find something bizarre about the whole set-up, whether it worked like that or as the article says.
Posted by: John | Jan 26, 2008 7:41:52 PM