By Lex Costello-
On October 26, 2022, in a vote of 23-12, Tamaulipas became the last state in Mexico to allow same-sex marriages. Mexico’s lawmakers voted to amend the Civil Code of the state of Tamaulipas, despite 12 lawmakers voting against the amendment and two lawmakers abstaining from the vote.
Passage of the amendment filled supporters with joy, and as it passed, they cheered, “Yes, we can!”
The amendment to allow same-sex marriage drew attention from many supporters and protesters who attended the session while the vote took place. During the lawmaker’s session, both supporters and opposers of the measure organized on the balcony to shout and cheer. The disruption caused the Tamaulipas legislators to move to another room in order finish their debate and vote
Arturo Zaldívar, president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, took to Twitter to embrace and support passage of the amendment. He tweeted, “The whole country shines with a huge rainbow. Live the dignity and rights of all people. Love is love.”
For the past 12 years, same-sex marriages performed in Mexico were recognized by all 31 states; Mexico’s federal spousal rights also applied. Regardless, as of 2018, Tamaulipas was one of only four states to still prohibit same-sex marriage.
The push by activists for legislative action in favor of same-sex civil unions in Tamaulipas began in 2011. The following year, they collected 25,000 signatures supporting same-sex marriage to present to legislators. In 2015 it was confirmed that Congress was working on a bill, though no bill passed for seven years.
It was then in October of 2022 that a bill was introduced to congress by Deputy Nancy Ruíz Martínez from the National Action Party, and passed on the 19th of the month in a vote of 14-1.
On October 25, 2022, a day before the vote in Tamaulipas took place, another state in Mexico passed legislation in favor of same-sex marriage. After the approval of the legislation in Guerrero, a southern state in Mexico, Tamaulipas was the last state to approve the marriages. Now, same-sex marriage is legal in every single state in Mexico.
However, the changes are moving slowly. Ten states still prevent same-sex spouses to adopt despite the right to adoption being granted to married couples. The bill to legalize the unions in Tamaulipas took effect on November 19, 2022, after being published in the official state journal on the day prior.
The United States experienced a similar change a few years ago. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states’ laws preventing same-sex marriage were unconstitutional; though it took a few years for laws to conform with the ruling.
Last year, Chile and Switzerland both legalized same-sex marriage. This year, Mexico joins Slovenia in being part of the 32 countries around the world who have legalized same-sex marriages. Hopefully, we see Andorra, Cuba, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Philippines and Thailand soon to follow in support of marriage equality.
After the legislation passed, the first same-sex marriage in Tamaulipas was performed between Carlos Rojas Hernández and Alejandro Tenorio del Angel on November 22, 2022.
Sources: Human Rights Campaign, NBC, Wikipedia
