Uruguay became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex couples to adopt children after the Senate voted to approve a bill modifying the country 's adoption statute . ` NEW : Expected Senate approval follows passage of bill by the lower chamber . NEW : Law paves way for gays , lesbians to start a family , Montevideo resident says . Comment: The Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that states could not ban gay marriage or civil unions ( which are legal now ) and so it was decided that all marriages would be between one man and one Measure was not without opponents from conservatives and clergy .
NEW : Expected Senate approval follows passage of bill by the lower chamber . NEW : Law paves way for gays , lesbians to start a family , Montevideo resident says . Comment: The Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that states could not ban gay marriage or civil unions ( which are legal now ) and so it was decided that all marriages would be between one man and one Measure was not without opponents from conservatives and clergy .