Javier Reyes, an accountant, and Alejandro Vascone, a bank administrator, have made history as the first same-sex couple to legally adopt a child in Chile’s Valparaíso region. Their journey to parenthood took two years and culminated with the adoption of a baby boy who has become the center of their world.
The couple’s path began after Chile’s Equal Marriage Law took effect in March 2022, opening adoption rights to same-sex couples nationwide. What followed was an intensive process that included workshops, interviews, psychological evaluations, and home visits conducted by Chile’s Servicio Mejor Niñez (Better Childhood Service).
“We were called to a meeting and they told us: ‘there is a child who is suitable for you, and you for him,’” the couple said in a recent interview. “We didn’t think twice. In a week our house was transformed, we went from having nothing to preparing everything to receive him.”
The child they welcomed was an 11-month-old baby who is now 15 months old. The couple describes the connection as immediate and profound.
“The bond was instant,” they explained. “When he arrived, we felt that this was our son.”
The adoption represents a significant milestone for Chile, a country that has rapidly evolved on LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade. While same-sex marriage only became legal in March 2022, Chile had previously allowed civil unions since 2015, though these partnerships didn’t include adoption rights.
The success story comes as LGBTQ+ communities across Latin America continue pushing for family equality. Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, for example, has emerged as an unexpected haven for LGBTQ+ travelers and residents, with Pride celebrations growing dramatically and new protections for sexual minorities.
Chile’s adoption process requires couples to demonstrate they can provide a stable, loving environment for children. Reyes and Vascone were declared suitable to adopt up to two children after completing the comprehensive evaluation process.
“Our adoption story hasn’t just changed our lives, it’s also inspiring others to take the first step,” they said. “The path isn’t easy or short, but it’s worth every second when it comes to children’s wellbeing and building new families.”
The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH), Chile’s leading LGBTQ+ rights organization, celebrated the couple’s achievement. The group has been instrumental in advancing marriage equality and adoption rights in Chile over the past two decades.
“This is a step that fills the diverse family community with hope and pride, demonstrating that love, responsibility, and commitment to childhood know no prejudice or arbitrary limitations,” MOVILH stated.
Chile’s progress on LGBTQ+ rights has been remarkable but uneven. While the country now allows same-sex marriage and adoption, transgender Chileans still face significant challenges. A recent report by Chile’s Chamber of Deputies proposed restricting gender-affirming care for minors, though the measure has no force of law.
The country decriminalized same-sex relationships in 1999 and passed anti-discrimination legislation in 2012 following the brutal murder of Daniel Zamudio, a young gay man whose death shocked the nation. These legal advances have helped create the foundation for family equality that Reyes and Vascone now benefit from.
As their son grows up, the couple hopes their story will encourage other same-sex couples to pursue adoption while demonstrating to society that diverse families can provide the love and stability children need.
Their achievement mirrors broader trends across Latin America, where countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have become global leaders in LGBTQ+ rights, even as challenges remain in more conservative regions.
Sources: El Periodista Chile, Wikipedia entries on LGBTQ rights in Chile and same-sex marriage in Chile, Equaldex LGBTQ rights database, Washington Blade coverage of Latin American LGBTQ issues, NBC News reports on same-sex adoption rights.
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