Same-sex couples to get same rights

Colombia is set to become the first Latin American country to give established gay couples full rights to health insurance, inheritance and social security.

Congress passed a bill Thursday, backed by President Alvaro Uribe, that would allow gay couples in long-term relationships to have the same health and social security benefits as heterosexual couples. It also guarantees that assets accumulated during the relationship will be divided between them, and in case of death, inherited by the survivor.

It would be the first nationwide law of its type in the region.