‘A bit of hope’: Chile legalizes same-sex marriage

Vote seen as a blow to conservative presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast, who won majority of votes in November's first round

A historic vote granting equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in Chile has been heralded by activists as a triumph and a blow to the conservative agenda of presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast.

Kast won the majority of votes in November's first-round vote, instilling a wave of fear among the country's LGBTQ+ community. A tight runoff between Kast and his progressive opponent, former student protest leader Gabriel Boric, is scheduled on 19 December.