(04/24/09) -

Most Chileans Reject Same-Sex Marriage

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in Chile are opposed to allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, according to a poll by Ipsos. 65.2 per cent of respondents are not in favour of same-sex marriage.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Adults in Chile are opposed to allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, according to a poll by Ipsos. 65.2 per cent of respondents are not in favour of same-sex marriage.

In addition, 72.5 per cent of respondents reject allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.

Chile has been traditionally regarded as one of the most conservative countries in the Americas. In May 2004, then Chilean president Ricardo Lagos authorized a law that allowed divorce in the South American country for the first time. Homosexuality was legalized in 1998, but the country does not have an anti-discrimination law pertaining to sexual orientation. Abortion is completely illegal in Chile.

Chilean lawmakers are currently discussing the scope of a civil union law. Earlier this month, Rolando Jiménez—president of the pro-gay rights Movement for Homosexual Integration and Freedom (MOVILH)—called for a broader debate, declaring, "Same-sex couples are the ones who are not protected by law, and lack even the option of marriage. (…) It would be immoral and discriminatory to develop a civil union law that leaves a group out."

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa and Norway. Sweden will allow homosexual couples to get married next month. At least 18 countries offer some form of legal recognition to same-sex unions.

Polling Data

Are you in favour of allowing people of the same-sex to get married?

Are you in favour of allowing same-sex couples to adopt children?

Source: Ipsos
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 Chilean adults, conducted from Mar. 17 to Apr. 3, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.