Colombia's Constitutional Court refused to rule in a same-sex marriage case on 11 November last week, saying the plaintiffs' legal arguments were not good enough to warrant a hearing from the court.
The petitioners had sought to strike language from the Civil Code that defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman.
But, in a 5-4 vote, the court said, "The charges of violation of the rights to equality, to free development of the personality and to not receive cruel or degrading treatment, alleged by the plaintiffs, were not sufficiently argued."
The court added that since the case was dismissed on technical grounds, it may be refiled at any time.
In a statement, the LGBT association Colombia Diversa said it had been hoping for a decision on the merits of the case and may file a new lawsuit.
"The nation lost a unique opportunity to achieve a true concept of equality in access to human rights among all Colombian people, be they same-sex or heterosexual couples," said the group's director, Marcela Sánchez.
