Lawmakers in the Mexican state of
Nayarit earlier this month approved a bill which allows gay and
lesbian couples to marry in the state.
Nayarit is expected to become the
fourth Mexican municipality where gay couples can tie the knot,
though marriage equality is technically possible throughout the
country. Two additional states – Chihuahua and Guerrero – have
enacted similar legislation through gubernatorial decrees.
According to La
Jornada, the bill, introduced by Deputy Luis Manuel Hernandez
Escobedo in June, cleared the state congress on December 17 with a
26-1 vote. One lawmaker abstained.
The western state's governor, Roberto
Sandoval, is expected to sign the bill into law.
At least five gay couples have already
exchanged vows in the state under court orders.
In June, Mexico's highest court struck
down state bans on gay marriage, effectively legalizing such unions.
However, gay couples seeking to wed in a state with a ban must seek
individual injunctions, an expensive and possibly time consuming
process depending on the number of appeals.
(Related: Mexico
Supreme Court strikes gay marriage bans; Chihuahua joins equality
states.)
Mexico City was the first municipality
to legalize same-sex marriages in 2009.