Lawmakers in Buenos Aires were to vote Wednesday on a bill which would make Argentina the first country in Latin America to recognize gay marriage. Following a long and tense debate among lawmakers, Argentina has joined Canada as one of a select few nations to legalize marriages between same-sex couples.

The approval came despite a concerted campaign by the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups, which drew 60,000 people to march on Congress. Some 200 pro-gay marriage counter demonstrators gathered at Buenos Aires' iconic Obelisco monument, banging pots and blowing vuvuzelas (the horns many heard at this year's World Cup), in the "Make Noise for Equality" campaign of Argentina's Anti-discrimination Institute, Inadi.

Many are thrilled by this new law and even Latin pop star (and fresh out the closet) Rick Martin has taken to hit Twitter account to express his joy. He's so excited, he-speakin-spanish :)