Mexico City is likely to trump Buenos
Aires as the first Latin American city to allow gay marriage after
lawmakers in the city approved a gay marriage bill on Monday, the
Mexico City-based Reforma reported.
City legislators overwhelmingly
approved the bill on a 39 to 20 vote that included five abstentions.
Lawmakers are also considering allowing married gay couples to adopt.
Mayor Marcelo Ebrard of the Democratic Revolution Party supports the
measure and is widely expected to sign the bill into law.
Proponents present during the three
hour debate cheered and shouted: “Yes we could!”
If approved, the law would only effect
Mexico City, where the government already recognizes gay couples with
civil unions. Nearly 10% of Mexicans live in the city.
Last month, a judge's ruling in Buenos
Aires paved the way for two men to marry on December 1, but a
national judge ordered a halt to the ceremony at the last moment.
Argentina's top court has agreed to hear the case.
“For centuries unjust laws banned
marriage between blacks and whites or Indians and Europeans,” city
lawmaker Victor Romo told the AP. “Today all barriers have
disappeared.”