Same-sex marriage legalised in first Latin American city
December 23rd, 2009 by Chloe.Setter
Mexico City has become the first city in Latin America to make same-sex marriage legal.
The capital city’s local assembly voted in favour of the bill by 39 votes to 20 on Monday (21 December 2009).
Although same-sex civil unions are legal in several Latin American cities and states, Mexico City is the first to change the law to accept same-sex marriage.
The wording of the definition of marriage in the city’s civil code will change from the union of a man and a woman to the “free uniting of two people”.
The amendment will mean that gay and lesbian couples can adopt together, apply for bank loans, inherit wealth and be included in their partner’s insurance policies.
Currently, in the world, there are only seven countries in which same-sex marriage is legal – Belgium, Canada, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and The Netherlands.
Mexico is a deeply Roman Catholic country and the church has stated its opposition to the move, along with the conservative National Action party, which is led by Mexican president Felipe Calderón, who has vowed to challenge the new law.
The capital city has a large and active gay and lesbian population, with a Mexico City Gay Pride event taking place each year at the end of June, attracting more than a million people annually.
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