A lesbian couple married Saturday in
Puebla, Mexico, marking the first time the state has recognized the
marriage of a same-sex couple.
Fabiola Lucero Mendez and Guadalupe
Gomez Tetetla exchanged vows in a suburb of Puebla, the capital and
largest city of the state of Puebla.
“It is an achievement for us and for
the whole community, our union will help to recognize the rights of
gay couples,” the women are quoted as saying by Angulo7.com.
The couple, together since 2009,
considered marrying in Mexico City after they were denied a marriage
license last year. Instead, they decided to fight for the right to
marry in their home state.
In June, the nation's highest court
effectively legalized such unions throughout Mexico. While the
ruling set a national precedent, it only applied to the plaintiffs.
Gay couples can marry in only a handful of Mexican states plus Mexico
City.
Judge Belinda Pastor Garcia united the
women.
“[T]his union opens the door for more
gay couples,” she said. “You need to understand that it is a
right that must be respected.”