MEXICO: Court rules in favour of gay marriage law in southern Oaxaca state

Record ID: 277746

  • Title: MEXICO: Court rules in favour of gay marriage law in southern Oaxaca state
  • Date: 10th December 2012
  • Summary: OAXACA CITY, MEXICO (DECEMBER 6, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CIVIL REGISTRY EXTERIOR VARIOUS OF CIVIL REGISTRY INTERIOR HAYDEE REYES SOTO, DIRECTOR OF OAXACA'S CIVIL REGISTRY, READING RULING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAYDEE REYES SOTO, DIRECTOR OF OAXACA'S CIVIL REGISTRY, SAYING: "We respect the current civil code and that is why they (three gay couples) were denied (marri
  • Embargoed: 25th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAAXKBF4WDVX9JW7ZSB50802345
  • Story Text: Mexico's Supreme Court last week ruled that a law banning gay marriages in the southern state of Oaxaca state was unconstitutional, paving the way for gay couples to marry in that state and in the rest of the country.
    The tribunal dismissed the law that declared the purpose of marriage was to "prolong the species." The court also said in its ruling that conditioning marriage unions to those between a man and a woman "violated the principle of equality."
    Activists see the law as part of a sea change in attitudes on homosexuality in much of traditionally macho Latin America. The powerful Catholic hierarchy in Mexico calls gay marriage immoral.
    On Sunday (December 9), the gay community in Oaxaca celebrated by draping themselves in a large rainbow flag - a symbol of gay pride - outside the Santo Domingo Church in the middle of Oaxaca City, accompanied by musicians.
    Dancing and cheering through the streets, they demanded the court's ruling be upheld.
    Luna Violeta, an indigenous gay and transvestite from Oaxaca, was pleased with the ruling.
    "For us as a member of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transvestite, transsgender and sexually ambiguous community in Oaxaca it's a very important resolution that the Supreme Court recognises our civil rights as people and Mexican citizens."
    The ruling by the court stems from a lawsuit filed by three gay couples against Oaxaca state.
    Alex Ali Mendez Diaz, from the Oaxacan Front for the Respect and Recognition of Sexual Diversity, helped the couples file the lawsuit.
    "In the state of Oaxaca, the ruling, at the moment, only protects the three couples who requested the appeal. In order to make sure it (ruling) is widespread and obligatory, we would have to seek two more cases in order to achieve jurisprudence," he said.
    The couples had originally approached Haydee Reyes Soto, Director of Oaxaca's Civil Registry, intending to marry.
    "We respect the current civil code and that is why they (three gay couples) were denied (marriage). But it's not a question of will or 'whether we wanted or not.' But we had to apply what already existed. But now, if the country's Supreme Court of Justice tells us we should carry out the marriages, applying article 143, considering a marriage between a couple of the same sex as though it were a marriage between a man and a woman, then we'll have to do it because we abide by the law," Reyes Soto explained.
    One of the claimants involved in the test case is called Karina. She has lived with her partner for the past two years and wants proper recognition of their relationship.
    "I have a lot of plans with my couple, but a life plan including a family with children. I think our children would have to be supported by us so that they can have benefits," Karina said.
    In 2010, Mexico City became the first capital in mainly Catholic Latin America to pass a law allowing gay couples the same marriage and adoption rights as heterosexuals.
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