Alex Freyre and partner José María Di Bello, wanted to get married today, on World Aids Day. They had planned a wedding day like Latin America has never seen. But as Di Bello and Freyre were being fitted for their tuxedos an Argentinian judge issued an order late last night blocking the continent's first gay marriage today. Di Bello and Freyre plan to show up anyway at the civil registry for the ceremony they scheduled after another court earlier authorised the wedding, said Maria Rachid, who headed the legal team handling the couple's lawsuit. If they are stopped, the couple of nearly 5 years will lead a protest instead of throwing their 2 bouquets on the street that Buenos Aires officials already had agreed to cordon off for the media spectacle the wedding was expected to draw. "They are shocked and saddened by the news, but still have hopes that the wedding will go forth as planned," said Rachid, president of the Argentine Federation for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals. Judge Marta Gómez Alsina blocked the wedding until the supreme court considers the matter, said the official court website. The ruling reversed a decision by city judge Gabriela Seijas to allow the wedding . Seijas ruled on November 20 that the couple had been unconstitutionally denied a marriage licence, and the mayor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, announced he would not appeal against the judge's decision. Di Bello and Freyre are both HIV positive, and chose today World Aids Day to help raise awareness. The couple sued after being denied a marriage licence last April. The court rulings apply to their case only, though dozens of other gay couples are now trying the same legal route to win permission to wed. A bill that would legalise gay marriage was introduced in congress in October but it has stalled without a vote. Only 7 countries in the world allow gay marriages: Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. US states that permit same-sex marriage are Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Argentina's capital established its gay-friendly reputation in 2002 by becoming the first Latin American city to legalise same-sex civil unions. 4 other Argentinian cities later did the same, and such unions also now are recognised in Mexico City and some Mexican and Brazilian states. Uruguay alone has legalised civil unions nationwide. While Buenos Aires' civil union law was celebrated as a huge victory for gay and lesbian rights, there are still many rights exclusive to married couples, such as the right to adopt children in the name of both parents, to enable a partner to gain citizenship and to inherit wealth or be included in insurance policies. Many in Argentina are still opposed to gay marriage, particularly the Roman Catholic church, which continues to be a strong influence in state affairs. Soon after Macri announced he would not appeal against the city judge's decision to permit Di Bello and Freyre to wed, Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio released a statement expressing his disapproval.
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