On Monday, Mexico City became the first Latin American city to legalize marriage for same-sex couples!!

The bill passed with a vote of 39-20, and, according to BBC News, is “widely expected “ to be signed by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.

From the Huffington Post:

 Only seven countries allow gay marriages: Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden,  Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. U.S. states that permit same-sex marriage  are Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

 Argentina's capital became the first Latin American city to legalize same-sex civil  unions in 2002 for gay and lesbian couples. Four other Argentine cities later did  the same, and as did Mexico City in 2007 and some Mexican and Brazilian states.  Uruguay alone has legalized civil unions nationwide.

From the AFP: 

The new measure modified a civil union law already on the books in Mexico City
 …

 Under the new law, same-sex marriages can be officiated 45 days after the  approval of the measure, beginning in February, gay rights activists said.

This is a huge victory, especially considering how strongly Catholic Mexico is.

 "We've got to celebrate. It's a social and cultural breakthrough that acknowledges  a historic debt owed the gay community," said Antonio Medina, an activist and  editor for the gay-news agency Notiese.

The Church, expectedly, has opposed the bill since it was introduced in September. It would be foolish not to expect a backlash, but for today, let’s celebrate this wonderful and highly encouraging step forward!

~ Samantha