Mexico City Approves Gay Civil Unions

[phusion]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_gay_unions

November 09, 2006

Mexico City's assembly on Thursday voted for the first time in the country's history to legally recognize gay civil unions, a measure that will provide same-sex couples with benefits similar to those of married couples. The mayor was expected to sign the measure into law.

The bill, which does not approve gay marriage, allows same-sex couples to register their union with civil authorities, granting them inheritance and pension rights, as well as other social benefits. Lawmakers were still finalizing the details.

Heterosexual couples who are not legally married can also be registered under the legislation.

The bill was severely criticized by the Catholic Church and conservative civil groups. It passed by a vote of 43-17, with all the opposition coming from the National Action Party of President Vicente Fox and president-elect Felipe Calderon.

[benny05]

1. This is progress

Something we need to do in our country, instead of bans.

[justiceischeap]

2. Mexico City huh?

And our government and country think we're so much more advanced than the rest of the world. :shrug:

[nevergiveup]

3. Very good news !

This will open some eyes and turn some heads.

[readmoreoften]

4. Yup. Mexico City. We're fucking embarrasing. /nt

[pinto]

5. Yeah! Saw this yesterday. Bet it surprised a lot of people in the US.

I understand it's only applicable in Mexico City, but the overwhelming support in their Assembly (43-17) is a strong statement and a positive step toward equality.

[phusion]

7. Mexico City is pretty progressive...

AMLO was Mayor for a long time, etc. I stay away because of the pollution though. Egh!

[MelissaB]

6. How about that?

:kick:

[nealmhughes]

8. Not really surprising, acutally if one knows Cuidad Mexico.

Trotsky took refuge in the safety of Frida's arms in Cuernavaca, then there was all the Marxist intelligensia of the city's art and academic communities. Garcia Marquez lives there. It is the center of Latin American Spanish language publishing. The National Autonomous University is one of the largest in the world. And it is the largest city in North America, beating out New York, LA, and Chicago by bounds. NYC has 5 boroughs and three or so suburban counties each in CT, NJ and Upstate. Well, Mexico has the central core of DF and FIVE STATES as suburbs!

[phusion]

9. Don't forget Castro

and his ability to organize and recruit for the revolution while in DF...