High Colombian official urges courts to OK same-sex marriage

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A top Cabinet minister in Colombia is urging the South American country's courts to legalize same-sex marriage and support the right of such couples to adopt.

Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo noted Friday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that enshrined the right of gays and lesbians to wed in the United States.

In Cristo's words, "Equality is unstoppable and equality also will come to Colombia."

The minister's appeal to the courts on Sunday was his own view and he was not speaking for President Juan Manuel Santos' administration. Colombia's congress, like much of the population, is very conservative and it is unlikely legislation allowing same-sex marriages would ever be adopted by lawmakers.

Cristo spoke as thousands from Colombia's LGBT community staged a gay price march in the capital.

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