Gay unions approved

last updated 8 January 2015

Mexico City

Mexico City last week became the first jurisdiction in Mexico to legally recognize same-sex unions, brushing aside strong opposition from the country's influential Catholic authorities. The capital city's assembly voted 43 to 17 to allow gay couples to register their unions with civil authorities and to obtain inheritance and pension rights and other benefits. Mexico City, with a population of nearly 9 million, is a federal district with its own legislature. Its laws apply only to city residents.