QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador's highest court on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage in a landmark ruling in the South American country. The Constitutional Court said same-sex marriage had been approved in a five-to-four vote of its nine judges in a closed hearing. The four dissenting judges argued that in order to recognize same-sex marriage, constitutional reform would have to be debated in the National Assembly. Gustavo Medina, a former Supreme Court president, told AFP that Ecuadoran authorities were obliged to abide by decisions of the Constitutional Court, which were "binding and mandatory." Ecuador has recognized de-facto civil unions for same-sex couples since 2015.

Source: Philippine Star June 13, 2019 00:33 UTC