Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Across Mexico... 7 Years After Supreme Court's Unconstitutionality Ruling

Allowed in over 30 countries worldwide including the Netherlands, France, and Germany
Legally recognized in Latin America with many Catholic believers such as Chile and Brazil

On the 26th (local time), members of LGBTQ+ organizations held a protest in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Same-sex marriage has been legalized across Mexico, including 31 states and the capital Mexico City (Federal District).

On the 27th (local time), according to Mexican daily newspapers La Jornada and Reforma, the Tamaulipas state legislature held a plenary session the previous evening and passed a civil law amendment that includes the legalization of same-sex marriage. The Tamaulipas state legislature stated on its official Twitter, "We are now able to comply with national and international standards such as guaranteeing equal marriage rights and eliminating discrimination."

Along with Tamaulipas, the Guerrero state legislature, which had not recognized same-sex marriage, also approved the legal amendment a day earlier on the 26th. Immediately after the plenary vote, the Guerrero state legislature announced on its official Twitter, "There will be no discrimination in marriage for all people over 18 years old."

This change comes seven years after the Mexican Federal Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. On June 16, 2015, the Mexican Federal Supreme Court stated, "If the purpose of marriage is not procreation, there is no reasonable basis to define marriage as a union only between a man and a woman." At that time, same-sex marriage was only permitted in Mexico City, Quintana Roo, and Coahuila.

Arturo Zald?var, Chief Justice of the Federal Supreme Court, said on his Twitter that day, "The entire country is shining with a giant rainbow," and added, "Long live the dignity and rights of all people. Love is simply love."

Currently, more than 30 countries worldwide, including the Netherlands, France, and Germany, have legalized same-sex marriage. In Latin America, where the majority are Catholic believers who doctrinally prohibit same-sex marriage, countries such as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica legally recognize same-sex marriage. Recently, Cuba, which persecuted same-sex marriage after the 1959 communist revolution, also legalized it. The Cuban family law amendment, passed with about 67% approval in a national referendum, changed the definition of marriage from the previous "voluntary union of a man and a woman" to "voluntary union of two people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.