The Congress of Yucatán approved marriage equality in a 20:5 vote, so that same-sex couples can now legally marry in 22 of Mexico’s 32 states. Only two months ago, the legislatures of Baja California and Sinaloa voted in favor of marriage equality.
The bill – forwarded by independent Deputy Milagros Romero – modifies article 94 of the Yucatán constitution, which previously stated that marriage was an exclusive institution between a man and a woman. With the change, marriage is now defined as a “free and voluntary legal union of two people with equal rights, duties and obligations.”
The Congress actually rejected same-sex marriage on two occasions. But those votes were held in secret, so that the Supreme Court ruled for a new vote to be held.
The Yucatán Congress similarly voted in favor of prison sentences of up to three years for anyone offering sexual orientation conversion therapy treatment. And anyone conducting conversion therapy with minors may be jailed for double that length of time.
