Mexican President Pushes for Constitutional Reform on Marriage Equality

The president of Mexico is leading a renewed push to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the country.

President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a reform measure for the Mexican constitution to allow same-sex couples in all states and municipalities. Nieto took action in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Mexico’s congress must approve the reform before the change can take effect.

Seven Mexican states and capital Mexico City have legalized same-sex marriage. In 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court found state bans on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional.

The president’s stance is a welcome change in the world’s second-largest Catholic country. LGBT rights have made significant advances in predominantly Catholic countries recently, despite resistance from conservative with close ties to the Church. Last week, Italy—home of the Vatican—approved same-sex civil unions after significant negotiations with the conservative wing of the country’s parliament.