A controversial bill allowing same sex couples to marry was struck down in Colombian Congress Wednesday.

The project, which would have allowed homosexual couples the right to marriage failed after Congress voted 51 to 17 against the proposal.

It had seemed that Congress was going to be unable to reach a conclusion in the heated debate, but the majority of the U Party and the Conservatives reportedly joined together in rejecting the law, signalling the end of the road for the controversial bill.

Since Congress failed to legislate a same sex marriage bill before June 20, a dictate given in 2011 by the Constitutional Court, same sex couples will be able to present their cases for civil unions in Colombian courts on a case by case basis.

Senator Armando Benedetti, the bill’s original drafter and main supporter in the Senate, told Colombia Reports,”We will take the fight to the Constitutional Court.”

Sources