(CNN) -- Debate was under way Wednesday in Argentina's Senate on a same-sex marriage bill that already has passed the lower chamber of Congress. A vote was expected later Wednesday.
The bill would give same-sex couples equal marriage rights, including the ability to adopt children.
Addressing claims that church leaders have been lobbying lawmakers about the proposal, Sen. Miguel Angel Pichetto told the state-run Telam news agency that he had not been pressured.
"There is some pressure in some provinces where the church plays a prominent role, but such is democracy," he said.
Thousands of people protested the measure Tuesday in front of Argentina's Congress in marches convened by Catholic and evangelical churches in the country.
