The Inter-American Court of Human Rights urged the Latin American countries to legalize same-sex marriage and although the Ecuadorian Constitution of 2008 defines marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court is analyzing the possibility to implement the IACHR´s advice.

Lesbian activists, like Pamela Troya who hopes to get married to her partner Gabriela Correa, are optimistic about the outcome of this process. The court could approve equal marriage with a majority of five votes to four, but this case will not be solved until May 7th, 2019.

If this measure is approved, Ecuador would join countries like Mexico and Argentina where same-sex marriage is legally performed.

However, consulted lawyers believe that the constitution would need an amendment and that would require the support from at least one million and one hundred thousand voters in a National Popular Consultation.

Ecuador legalized a civil union for same-sex couples, this does not grant them the same rights enjoyed by married couples. The Catholic Church and other conservative sectors of the country opposed to this measure.

Read the full story in Spanish here.