MEXICO PASSES SAME SEX MARRIAGE LAW

Same sex marriage law in Mexico

¡Que viva Mexico!



The Mexico City legislature yesterday passed with a two thirds majority an
initiative to make it possible for people of the same sex to marry each
other and adopt children. The initiative is now before the Mayor, Mr Marcelo
Luis Ebrard Casaubon. If he approves the initiative he will draft a new law,
redefining marriage in the Federal District as a "free union between two
people," and allowing same sex couples to adopt. The law will come into
effect in March 2010.



Gloria Careaga, Co-Secretary General of ILGA and active promoter of the
bill, said: “This has been an intense process in which more than 150 social
organizations were involved. When passed, Mexico City will become the first
legislative body in Latin America to pass legislation allowing people of the
same sex to marry and adopt children. I am proud of living in this City,
this is a landmark victory for all those who believe in the equality of
lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex people, in democracy and freedom”.



“This legislation will raise the standards of equality in Mexico higher than
those of many European and North American countries: a nail in the coffin of
those who insist in presenting the right of equality for all LGBTI people in
the world as 'a Western construct',” added Renato Sabbadini, Co-Secretary
General of ILGA.



ILGA has supported the passage of the initiative by encouraging political
leaders worldwide to write to Mayor Ebrard Casaubon and the City
Parliamentarians and express their support.



Mr Job Cohen, the Mayor of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and the first person
in the world to officiate a state-sanctioned same sex marriage, wrote: “I
praise Mexico City for aspiring to become the first city in Latin America to
make this bold and necessary step forward. Same sex marriage has made our
society more inclusive. It was a clear signal that we fully accept people
for who they are. We oppose discrimination on the basis of whom people
choose to love. I strongly urge you to support this bill. I believe it is
the right way forward for a city that seeks equality for all and I commend
you for your leadership”.



Member of the European Parliament Ms Ulrike Lunacek wrote to the Mayor on
behalf of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender rights requesting his support for the initiative. “The right to
privacy, the right to found a family and enjoy fully equal rights are
enshrined in international treaties to which the Federal State of Mexico has
subscribed. Passing this piece of legislation would honour the leaders, as
well as serve the interests of all your constituents.