An Argentine judge has granted a homosexual couple permission to marry, setting a precedent that could pave the way for the Catholic country to become the first in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage.

Friday's ruling by Buenos Aires Judge Gabriela Seijas ordered the city's civil registry to officially confirm the marriage of Alejandro Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello.

The decision could increase pressure on Argentine lawmakers to debate a stalled gay marriage bill currently deadlocked in Congress.

Buenos Aires became the region's first municipality to approve civil unions for gay couples in 2002 and was followed by several other jurisdictions countrywide.

Same sex civil unions are also allowed in Mexico City and Uruguay, which became the first country to legalize the practice in 2007.