Uruguay’s House of Representatives approved legislation legalizing Gay Marriage for citizens and for foreign couples who travel to the country to get hitched.

Uruguay’s new law breaks new ground even among the 11 countries that have already legalized Marriage Equality (Uruguay will be #12), because it used a single set of rules for all people, gay or straight.  Instead of words like “husband and wife” in marriage contracts, it refers to the gender-neutral “contracting parties.”

It also updates Uruguay’s divorce laws to allow either spouse to unilaterally request a divorce and get one.

President Jose Mujica is expected to sign it, and his ruling Broad Front majority is expected to put the law into effect quickly, ending the days of marriage, adoption and other family rights being exclusive to heterosexuals.

All this comes over the objections of the country’s Roman Catholic Church, which claims Marriage Equality “will only further weaken marriage”, although the church has never been able to demonstrate how that would happen or what it even means.

France is currently inching closer to legalizing Marriage Equality, and the UK is considering it with the backing of PM David Cameron.  New Zealand’s lawmakers are divided on the issue.  So, what's taking so long, Oz?