Uruguay becomes 15th county to pass marriage equality; law becomes effective in July

71 of 92 deputies in the Uruguay's lower legislative chamber voted for mar­riage equality yesterday, following last week's 23-8 approval in the country's upper house; President Jose Mujica has said he will sign it, after having campaigned for it.
     It also lets gay couples choose the order of sur­names for children (a big deal in Latin countries) and increases the age of consent in the country from 12 for girls and 14 for boys to 16.