Gay rights organization Colombia Diversa on Wednesday sent out a document with which gay couples can request to be married after Friday when a Constitutional Court deadline ordering Congress to regulate gay rights expires.
The document, published by newspaper El Tiempo, contains the legal request to be married and specific clauses that allow couples to turn to the Constitutional Court for a ruling in case a notary or judge refuses to marry the couple.
The leaked document followed a statement by Colombian cardinal who rejected any possibility for Colombia’s GLBT population to get married and called on Christians to exercise their right to conscientious objections when asked to marry a gay couple.
MORE: Colombia’s Gay Population Has No Right To Marriage Or Family: Catholic Church
The intense public debate regarding gay marriage precedes a deadline for Friday set by the Constitutional Court two years ago. In the 2011 ruling, the court ordered Congress to come up with the necessary legislation to regulate gay rights. If not, all couples — whether straight or gay — will be allowed to get legally married.
Since the court issued the deadline, Congress has not been able to come to pass legislation under fierce resistance from conservative lawmakers who are strongly opposed to gay marriage they consider a privilege for heterosexual couples only.