Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday
that states must recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples
wed in Mexico City, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Lawmakers in the country's capital
approved the gay marriage law in December and couples began marrying
in March. About 320 gay couples have married so far. Previously,
the city recognized gay couples with civil unions.
The country's federal government, which
is controlled by the conservative PAN Party, had appealed to the
Supreme Court. It argued the law, which for the first time permits
married gay couples to adopt, was detrimental to children.
Last week, the court ruled that the
city's law was constitutional.
In its 9 to 2 decision, the court said
that states are not obligated to legalize gay marriage, but they must
honor the marriages performed in Mexico City. The court has, in
effect, legalized gay marriage recognition throughout the country.
Mexico City lawmakers approved the law
over the strong objections of local PAN leaders and the Roman
Catholic Church.
Mexico's Roman Catholic archbishop,
Cardinal Noberto Rivera Carrera, called the law “immoral” and
“reprehensible.”
The court must still rule on the
constitutionality of the law's adoption provision, which might be
considered as early as Thursday.
Mexico City was the first autonomous
government to legalize gay marriage in Latin America, and several
countries in the region have followed its lead. Argentina
approved a gay marriage law last month. Chile,
the last country on the continent to allow divorce, Uruguay, and
Paraguay say they'll consider a gay marriage law. Peru will
debate a bill that recognizes gay and lesbian couples with civil
unions