Even Mexico City is progressive than America with gay rights

Hey, I’ll be gay if I want to, not ’cuz your banner tells me to! … Hey, waitaminute …

Funny; I always pictured Mexico (and Latin America in general) as being generally religious-conservative, particularly when it came to civil rights (abortion, LGBT rights, etc.). I suppose I ought to change that thinking, considering Mexico City has legalized gay marriage by redefining the meaning of “marriage” – literally:

Lawmakers in Mexico City have become the first in Latin America to legalise gay marriage.

City legislators passed the bill 39-20, with five abstentions. The city's mayor is now widely expected to sign the bill into law.

Gay marriage is only allowed in seven countries and some parts of the US. Certain parts of Latin America allow civil unions for same-sex couples.

The Catholic Church and conservative groups had opposed Mexico City's move.

The bill calls for a change in the definition of marriage in the city's civic code - from the union of a man and a woman to "the free uniting of two people".

That’s … actually a pretty good definition. Sure, it’s open to being twisted and (intentionally) misconstrued by bigots and religious cranks such as those who opposed this movement; but then, no-one gives a damn about what they have to say (at least in Mexico City), so it’s all good. In addition, city legislators are now working on a measure in the bill that would grant same-sex couples the right to adopt children. Who knew Mexico City was so cool?

The rest of the article also contains some rather interesting bits of news that few seem to be aware of. For example, Mexico City has also legalized abortion; several cities in Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia also allow gay marriage; and Uruguay has legalized civil unions across the country (which is always a good first step) and already allows gay couples to adopt children.

Wow … The U.S., for all its purported freedom and liberty, is now being outshone by all of its neighbors. Maybe it’s time the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave joined the rest of us in the 21^st century?

(via Pharyngula)

Technorati tags: civil rights · gay rights · gay marriage · same-sex marriage · Latin America · Mexico City