In La Paz, Bolivia, a historic court ruling this month granted legal recognition to the marriage of Fabiana Justiniano and Scarlett Rocha. The couple first applied for a marriage license in October 2022 and endured nearly four years of legal challenges, including two appeals to the Constitutional Court, before receiving a March 2026 decision that cleared the way for their wedding.
Couple’s Journey and Immediate Impact
Rocha described the lengthy process as fraught with uncertainty and numerous barriers, even on the day of the ceremony. “We had many doubts, a lot of uncertainty … because the process was so long and during the process there were so many barriers, so many limitations,” she said. For Justiniano, the marriage brought a profound sense of peace. “For me, marriage means peace,” she explained, recalling the first night at home as a married couple, when she felt that everything they had built now belonged “only and exclusively to us.”
Legal Scope and Future Prospects
The ruling applies specifically to Justiniano and Rocha’s case; Bolivia’s administrative rules have not yet been updated to allow same‑sex marriage nationwide. Future access will depend on additional decisions by the Constitutional Court.
Mateo Rodrigo, a lawyer with the advocacy group Equal Bolivia who represented the couple, said the decision has already generated interest from other same‑sex couples. “Since Fabiana and Scarlett’s wedding we have already received quite a few requests, around five to ten couples have approached us,” he noted, though many remain hesitant after witnessing the lengthy battle the first couple endured.
Progression from Civil Unions to Marriage
Bolivia’s journey toward legal recognition of same‑sex relationships began with civil unions. A landmark 2020 case saw David Aruquipa and Guido Montaño win a two‑year legal battle for a civil union, and by 2023 court rulings made registration of same‑sex civil unions broadly available. To date, the Ombudsman’s Office reports that 148 same‑sex civil unions have been recognized, though unions still provide fewer practical protections than marriage.
“With marriage, we’re opening many more doors. With civil unions, we opened a few,” Montaño said, emphasizing that the new marriage ruling expands legal benefits for couples who choose marriage over a civil union.
Regional Context
While Cuba legalized same‑sex marriage and adoption in 2022, most of Latin America remains resistant. Same‑sex marriage is still illegal or unrecognized in much of Central America, as well as in Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and parts of the Caribbean.
The Bolivian case may serve as a catalyst for further legal challenges across the region, as activists see the ruling as a potential pathway to broader recognition of marriage equality.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
