Ricky Martin objects to court ruling against gay marriages

San Juan, Oct 25 (IANS/EFE) Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin has objected to a federal judge's decision to throw out a suit filed by several gay couples urging that their marriages contracted in the US be recognised on their native island.

"I regret the decision in Puerto Rico on #equalmarriage, but I know we will win an appeal. All rights for all loves," the artist tweeted Friday about the ruling of federal Judge Juan Perez Gimenez.

The judge dismissed this week the plea entered by activist Ada Conde and her spouse, Ivonne Alvarez, soon joined by other couples, seeking to declare Article 68 of the Puerto Rican Civil Code as unconstitutional as it defines marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman.

Martin's reaction found common ground with Amnesty International's local executive director, Pedro Santiago, who said in a communique Thursday that the judge's decision was discriminatory and violated the human rights of gays and their families.

He added that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established that all people were born free and equal in human dignity and rights, and that included the right to their own identity, to form a family and not be discriminated against.

But in the judge's opinion, "the Constitution of Puerto Rico mentions no right to same-sex marriage, so that the Associated Free State (of Puerto Rico) is not obliged to acknowledge such unions".

--IANS/EFE

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