Bolivia celebrates first civil same-sex marriage after years of legal fight

Bolivia has marked a historic milestone with the celebration of its first civil same-sex marriage between Fabiana Banzer and Scarlett Rocha in the eastern city of Santa Cruz. This union comes after a protracted legal struggle spanning nearly four years, characterized by "struggle, perseverance, and hope" for the couple to have their family legally recognized.

Fabiana Banzer shared her joy on social media, announcing that after "a legal fight of 3 years and 10 months," they had finally achieved civil marriage as two women. The NGO IGUAL Bolivia, which provided crucial support throughout the legal process, confirmed that the couple was able to say "I do" with the full legal recognition and protection of the Bolivian state.

IGUAL Bolivia highlighted that this is more than just a civil marriage; it represents the triumph of two individuals who chose to build a life together and fought for their family's recognition and protection. The organization stated that this event "opens a door of hope for many other diverse couples and families who still await their rights to be fully recognized."

The transfeminist collective La Pesada Subversiva noted the "very tough legal fight against Bolivian institutions," citing discrimination and mistreatment from authorities. They recalled that Banzer and Rocha formally applied for civil marriage on October 12, 2022, referencing a 2017 advisory opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CorteIDH) on gender identity and non-discrimination for same-sex couples.

While same-sex unions have been recognized in Bolivia through "unión libre" (free union) since 2020, La Pesada Subversiva emphasized that this status lacks the social recognition and importance of marriage. Therefore, the achievement by Banzer and Rocha is considered "historic" and a significant advancement for the rights of sexual diversities and dissidents in Bolivia, especially within an "adverse political context for such social conquests."