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Mexico leader Pena Nieto proposes legalising same-sex marriage | Mexico leader Pena Nieto proposes legalising same-sex marriage |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Mexico's President, Enrique Pena Nieto, has proposed constitutional reform to legalise same-sex marriage across the country. | Mexico's President, Enrique Pena Nieto, has proposed constitutional reform to legalise same-sex marriage across the country. |
The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that opened the way to such unions. | The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that opened the way to such unions. |
Gay marriage is only legal in the capital, Mexico City, and a few states. | Gay marriage is only legal in the capital, Mexico City, and a few states. |
Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and most recently Colombia have already legalised same-sex marriage. | Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and most recently Colombia have already legalised same-sex marriage. |
Mexico's Supreme Court declared last year that it was unconstitutional for the country's states to ban such marriages. | Mexico's Supreme Court declared last year that it was unconstitutional for the country's states to ban such marriages. |
Mr Pena Nieto made the announcement at an event marking Mexico's national day against homophobia. | Mr Pena Nieto made the announcement at an event marking Mexico's national day against homophobia. |
On Twitter, the president said: "For an inclusive Mexico that recognises in diversity one of its biggest strengths." He used a hashtag in Spanish saying: "Without homophobia". | On Twitter, the president said: "For an inclusive Mexico that recognises in diversity one of its biggest strengths." He used a hashtag in Spanish saying: "Without homophobia". |
His and the Mexican government's profile pictures on Twitter were overlaid with the rainbow flag of gay pride. | His and the Mexican government's profile pictures on Twitter were overlaid with the rainbow flag of gay pride. |
Argentina was the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriages in July 2010. | Argentina was the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriages in July 2010. |
The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says the governing PRI party has always prided itself on upholding the conservative values of Mexican society. | |
But the move is perhaps a recognition by the Pena Nieto government that attitudes towards gay rights have relaxed in recent years, our correspondent adds. |