Mexican Supreme Court declares same-sex 'marriages' valid for entire country

Mexico City, Mexico, Aug 11, 2010 / 16:08 pm

The Supreme Court of Mexico has ruled that gay “marriages” that take place in Mexico City, must be recognized throughout the entire country. However, the decision does not require all 31 states modify their laws to allow the “marriages” to take place.

On December 21, the Federal District of Mexico City legalized same-sex “marriages.” Until now, those “marriages” were only legally recognized in the capital city.

During the past week, Judges Margarita Luna Ramos and José de Jesús Gudiño Pelayo helped Judge Sergio A. Valls Hernández gather the nine necessary votes in favor of the national recognition of homosexual “marriages” performed in the capital city.

The two judges who opposed the measure in defense of traditional marriage were Guillermo Ortiz Mayagoitia and Sergio Salvador Aguirre Anguiano.

“The fact that 31 states define marriage in a distinct manner cannot in any way limit the legislative powers of the capital city,” said Valls, who spearheaded the measure.

In their dissenting opinion, Guillermo Ortiz Mayagoitia and Sergio Salvador Aguirre Anguiano declared that giving validity to homosexual “marriage” nationwide breaks the harmony of the federal system.

The court will now address the adoption of children by same-sex couples who are married in Mexico City.