Bolivia’s First Legal Same-Sex Civil Marriage Marks Historic Breakthrough

Fabiana Justiniano, a psychologist, and Scarlett Rocha, a neuroscientist, married on Aug 7 in Santa Cruz, becoming Bolivia’s first legally recognized same-sex civil couple. Their quest began nearly four years earlier when local officials refused them a marriage license, prompting them to sue on the basis that the nation’s constitution gives priority to international human-rights treaties, including an Inter-American Court advisory opinion.

After a lengthy process involving multiple lawsuits, a constitutional tribunal in La Paz ruled on March 13 that the civil registry had discriminated against them and ordered a license within ten days; the issuance took five more months. The ceremony, attended by over a hundred guests, was celebrated as both a personal milestone and a political breakthrough in a country whose constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Legal experts say the case could become a precedent, and the matter now heads to Bolivia’s Constitutional Court for further review, while advocacy group Igual Bolivia reports additional couples seeking similar recognition. Officials from the Ombudsman’s Office view the decision as an important step toward broader LGBTQ rights in Bolivia.