Yesterday, Uruguay’s Congress allowed same-sex civil unions, making it the first Latin American country to do so:

Under the new law, gay and straight couples will be eligible to form civil unions after living together for five years. They will have rights similar to those granted to married couples on such matters as inheritance, pensions and child custody.

Uruguay’s Senate passed the bill unanimously after the lower house approved it last month, a congressional spokesman said. The country’s center-left president is expected to sign it into law.

Several cities, including Buenos Aires and Mexico City, already have gay civil union laws on the books. Uruguay’s law would be the first nationwide measure in Latin America, which is home to about half the world’s Roman Catholics.

How Urugay. Congratulations and good luck to all the couples who can now live in civilly unioned bliss and send us even more tacky Christmas cards of the two of you smiling idyllically in your matching snowman sweaters.

Uruguay OKs gay unions in Latin American first [Reuters]