Answer
Uruguay was the first country in South America to officially recognize same-sex marriage. This fact is usually cited as one of the hallmarks of the country’s more liberal legal and social environment.
For migrants, this is important not only as a separate rule of family law. The move shows that Uruguay secured equal marital status for same-sex couples earlier than many of its neighbors, which means that rights and recognition have an institutional dimension.
The fact of legalization does not describe the entire personal experience of life. People’s attitudes, access to work, housing and health care depend on the city, social circle and situation, but Uruguay’s basic legal stance on this issue is noticeably progressive.