By a vote of 19-1, the Congress of the Mexican state of Coahuila has voted to legalize same-sex marriage. The vote came down yesterday and, as Rex Wockner reports, Coahuila is the first Mexican state to legalize same-sex marriage through its state legislature:
The new law, which alters more than 40 parts of the state's Civil Code, takes effect in one week.
According to reports, the law says, "Marriage is the free union with full consent of two people, which has as its objective to realize community life where both [people] seek respect, equality and mutual aid, and make in a free, responsible, voluntary and informed way reproductive decisions that fit their life project, including the possibility of procreation or adoption." […]
The law's "exposition of motives" says it "puts an end to the restrictions and limitations imposed on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, travesti, transgender and intersex community, which constitute a constitutional and international violation."
Same-sex marriage is currently also legal in two other Mexican states, the Federal District (which includes Mexico city) and Quantana Roo. Coahuila borders the U.S. state of Texas.
Watch a Spanish language news clip on the new legislation approving same-sex marriage, AFTER THE JUMP…
