Heart-Breaking Story On Why We Need Marriage Equality World-Wide

<p>A heart-breaking story which demonstrates the need for marriage equality for the gay community world wide helps a Petition to Peru's President pass 57,000 signatures.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 22nd April 2014</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4608896534.png" width="460" height="304" alt="" title=""/></p> <p></p><p>Richard and Roberto were partners for 3 years. They were deeply in love. One day Richard complained about a pain in his neck and was hospitalised a short time later.</p><p></p><p>Roberto said: 'They banned me from seeing him. They said I didn't count as family. I was able to sneak into his room for only two minutes. Enough time to hold his hand and tell him that I loved him. He died the next day. I wasn’t allowed to be there.</p><p></p><p>'This happened because we were a gay couple in Peru and there’s no law to protect us. But, next Tuesday there's a vote to decide whether families like mine can be protected with civil unions.' </p><p></p><p>Unlike their neighbours Peru is far behind in recognising same-sex relationships and basic rights for LGBTs. However Peru's President, Ollanta Humala, will be voting on a new law which will recognise same-sex relationships on Tuesday. </p><p></p><p>Through a petition on <a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/tags/ALLOUT">AllOut.org</a>, Roberto is asking for people to lend their voice to the campaign.</p><p></p><p>'If thousands more of us inside Peru and around the world speak up before the Tuesday vote, we can grow the energy of those historic protests, spreading it to social media and the news. It could be enough to finally convince President Humala to finally stand up for all of Peru's families and make sure civil unions get approved in Congress.'</p><p></p><p>Visit the petition at <a href="http://www.allout.org/peru">http://www.allout.org/peru</a> </p><p></p><p></p><p>ALSO READ:</p><p><a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/News-Where-In-The-World-Is-Gay-Marriage-Legal/5463799">Where in the world is gay marriage legal</a></p><p><a href="http://thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/NEWS-700-Million-Now-Living-With-Gay-Marriage/7235837">700 Million Now Living With Gay Marriage World Wide</a></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>