13 January
2010
Mexico City's law allowing same-sex
marriage will take effect in March.
It was approved by the Legislative Assembly on Dec. 21 and published in the
official register on Dec. 30.
Legislators voted 39-20 for the bill, which redefines "marriage" as
"the free uniting of two people."
The bill also explicitly legalizes adoption by gay couples.
Federal benefits, such as pension, inheritance and social-security rights, will
remain off-limits to married gay couples without changes in federal law to
recognize the Mexico City marriages.
City officials say they hope gay couples will come from around the world to get
married. The city is working with travel agencies to offer packages that
include flights, hotel, sightseeing, a wedding and a banquet.
Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway,
South Africa, Spain and Sweden; in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province; and
in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Vermont. It will become legal in March in Washington, D.C., and in Portugal
later this year.