Same-sex unions in South America

Currently 6 of the 12 sovereign counteries in South America recognize some type of same-sex unions. Same-sex marriage is currently legal in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. An additional three countries have a form of civil union or registered partnership, namely Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. South America was the first continent in the world to have a majority of its inhabitants living in a jurisdiction that afforded same-sex couples the right to marry.

Sex between women is legal in the entire region, while sex between men is illegal only in Guyana, not to be confused with French Guiana.