Mexico's Marriage Equality Momentum Picks Up

Following places like Chihuahua and Mexico City, the western Mexican state of Nayarit has legalized same-sex marriage. The state's congress passed an amendment to the state civil code this week, which should be formalized shortly, The Yucatan Times reports.

Nayarit's legalization follows a decision by the nation's Supreme Court that opened the door for such changes. That June ruling stated that limiting marriages to opposite-sex couples was unconstitutional, though it didn't order states to begin issuing marriage licenses to all. Instead, the high court was offering "jurisprudential thesis" to the states, and opening the door for lower-court judges to follow their lead should local marriage bans be challenged.

Some jurisdictions enacted marriage equality earlier, with Mexico City doing so almost six years ago.

The liberal-minded Mexican Supreme Court in August also struck down bans on adoption of children by same-sex couples.