Same-sex marriage in Chiapas explained

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Chiapas in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling issued on 11 July 2017 that the ban on same-sex marriage violated the equality and non-discrimination provisions of Articles 1 and 4 of the Constitution of Mexico. The ruling, published in the Official Journal of the Federation on 11 May 2018, legalized same-sex marriage in the state of Chiapas.

Legal history

Background

The Mexican Supreme Court ruled on 12 June 2015 that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional nationwide. The court's ruling is considered a "jurisprudential thesis" and did not invalidate state laws, meaning that same-sex couples denied the right to marry would still have to seek individual amparos in court. The ruling standardized the procedures for judges and courts throughout Mexico to approve all applications for same-sex marriages and made the approval mandatory. Specifically, the court ruled that bans on same-sex marriage violate Articles 1 and 4 of the Constitution of Mexico. Article 1 of the Constitution states that "any form of discrimination, based on ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disabilities, social status, medical conditions, religion, opinions, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other form, which violates the human dignity or seeks to annul or diminish the rights and freedoms of the people, is prohibited.",[1] and Article 4 relates to matrimonial equality, stating that "man and woman are equal under the law. The law shall protect the organization and development of the family." The Constitution of Chiapas does not expressly forbid the recognition of same-sex marriages. Article 9 of the Constitution states that "the State of Chiapas will promote policies aimed at guaranteeing the right of every person to: [...] the protection of the development of their family."[2] [3] [4] [5]

In January 2014, activists filed a complaint with the National Council to Prevent Discrimination against Mayor Rafael Guira Aguilar of Chilón. Guira Aguilar was accused of sponsoring a religious campaign against same-sex marriage and abortion by financing build boards calling bills legalising abortion, same-sex marriage and marijuana "violations of God's commandments" and saying "the wages of sin is death". Human rights groups said the mayor's financial support for the campaign violated secular principles.[6] [7]

On 25 September 2014, Equal Marriage Mexico (Spanish; Castilian: Matrimonio Igualitario México) filed an amparo contesting the constitutionality of articles 144 and 145 of the Civil Code of Chiapas.[8] Article 144 stated that marriage is an institution whose goal was "perpetuating the species", while article 145 required "the man and woman" to be at least 16 years of age. On 3 March 2015, the Supreme Court ruled against the state, declared the two articles unconstitutional, and gave the 51 plaintiff couples the right to marry.[9] On 26 March 2015, a document published by the state Congress denounced the ruling, asking for a review and stating that same-sex marriage was "unnatural" while making comparisons of homosexual relationships to incest.[10] The chairman of the Board of Directors of Congress, Jorge Enrique Hernández Bielma, later denied the filing of the review stressing that only he had the power to make the request and insisting that he had never signed any document regarding the issue.[11] However, on 16 April 2015, the media revealed that the state's Judicial Council website had received the review request on 23 March 2015 and had already assigned a number to the case.[12] In September 2016, the Supreme Court ruled against the state on appeal and declared the state's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.[13]

In December 2015, a lesbian couple was married in Tuxtla Gutiérrez after having successfully won an amparo in the courts. The couple, who remained anonymous, were the first same-sex couple to marry in Chiapas.[14] [15] In July 2016, the Second District Court granted an amparo to a male couple from San Cristóbal de Las Casas.[16]

Legislative action

Legislation to permit same-sex marriages was first proposed in Chiapas in 2012. On 15 February 2012, various LGBT associations presented measures to the executive and legislative branches of government recommending amendments to the Civil Code to allow same-sex couples to marry.[17] On 29 November 2013, human rights activist Diego Cadenas Gordillo presented the Congress of Chiapas with a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.[18] [19] The proposal was rejected by Congress on 13 December 2013, citing that "popular initiatives" must be supported by 1.5% of the electorate, or 50,500 voters.[20] On 3 January 2014, an injunction was filed with a federal judge due to the Congress' refusal to act on the measure.[21] [22] The judge rejected the injunction, and shortly thereafter activists filed an appeal with the Twentieth Circuit Court.[21] In November 2014, Gordillo filed a request for formal intervention by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR), claiming that neither Congress nor Governor Manuel Velasco Coello had responded to the discriminatory laws banning same-sex marriage in Chiapas.[23] The IACHR officially received the request and registered it as case 1728–14.[24] [25]

On 27 March 2014, Deputy Alejandra Ruiz Soriano from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) introduced a bill to amend article 144 of the Civil Code to state that marriage is "the free union of two people for the community of life, where both respect, equality and mutual aid are sought." The bill would have also standardized concubinage, regardless of sexual orientation.[26] It stalled in Congress, having not even received a first reading two years after introduction. Another same-sex marriage bill was introduced to Congress in May 2016.[27] According to Spanish; Castilian: Unidos Diferentes Asociación Civil (UDAC), a local LGBT advocacy group, the new bill was taken off the agenda several times and not voted on due to the actions of the president of Congress, Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar. The bill would not have addressed adoption by same-sex couples.[28] As with the previous proposal, it stalled.

As of June 2022, a bill to codify same-sex marriage in the Civil Code is pending in Congress.[29]

Action of unconstitutionality (2016–2017)

On 6 April 2016, the National Human Rights Commission filed an action of unconstitutionality (Spanish; Castilian: acción de inconstitucionalidad; docketed 32/2016) with the Mexican Supreme Court.[30] [31] The Congress of Chiapas had recently amended state family law but while doing so did not repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The Commission took this opportunity to file the action of unconstitutionality. The action sought to legalize same-sex marriage in Chiapas, similarly to Jalisco, where the Supreme Court struck down that state's same-sex marriage ban in a unanimous ruling in early 2016.

On 11 July 2017, the court ruled that the heterosexual definition of marriage in the Civil Code was unconstitutional under the equality and non-discrimination provisions of Articles 1 and 4 of the Constitution of Mexico, legalizing same-sex marriage in the state and specifying that a judicial Spanish; Castilian: amparo is no longer required.[32] [33] The first same-sex marriage ceremony following the ruling occurred in late July 2017, though the couple still married using an amparo.[34] The ruling would come into effect upon publication in the Official Journal of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación). On 30 October 2017, the ruling still not published, the civil registry began nonetheless accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples. The first couple to marry without an amparo did so in San Cristóbal de las Casas that day.[35] The ruling was officially published on 11 May 2018.[36] State officials have also confirmed that the court ruling permits same-sex couples to adopt.[37]

Marriage statistics

More than 300 same-sex marriages were performed in Chiapas between December 2017 and June 2018, with most being performed in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Tapachula and Comitán. Many couples were from other states, including from Tabasco, Veracruz and Oaxaca.[38]

Public opinion

A 2017 opinion poll conducted by Spanish; Castilian: Gabinete de Comunicación Estratégica found that 39% of Chiapas residents supported same-sex marriage, the second lowest in the entire nation, while 58% were opposed.[39]

According to a 2018 survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, 59% of the Chiapas public opposed same-sex marriage, the highest in Mexico.[40]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mexico's Constitution of 1917 with Amendments through 2015. www.constituteproject.org. 5 February 2022. 6 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220306031605/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mexico_2015.pdf?lang=en. live.
  2. Web site: Constitución Política del Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas. sspc.chiapas.gob.mx. es. 16 February 2020. 20 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420213746/https://www.sspc.chiapas.gob.mx/documentos/documentosifp/MARCO%20LEGAL/constitucion-chiapas-4to-trimestre.pdf. live.
  3. Web site: Smuk'ul Bi'il Sjunil Mantalil Yu'un Slekil Slum Sk'inal Chyapas. Calameo. 16 February 2020. 16 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216170502/https://en.calameo.com/read/000897764afeee2a952a0. live.
  4. Web site: Smuk'u Sbi Svunil Mantal Yu'un Sleki Skotol Yosilal Chyapas. Calameo. 16 February 2020. 16 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216170506/https://en.calameo.com/read/000897764231c1a938676. live.
  5. Web site: Bujlibäl P'ätyäty'añ Ya' Tyi Jojyib Laklumaltyak Yik'oty Iwenlel Lakpi'älob Tyi Chyapas. Calameo. 16 February 2020. 16 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216170504/https://en.calameo.com/read/000897764b4e6b0901247. live.
  6. Web site: Alcalde de Chilón, Chiapas, es acusado de patrocinar campaña religiosa contra el aborto y matrimonio homosexual. Sinembargo.mx. es. 21 January 2014. 18 June 2022. 21 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220221012559/https://www.sinembargo.mx/21-01-2014/879645. live.
  7. Web site: Campaña contra matrimonio gay en Chiapas. diariocontrapoderenchiapas.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903071315/http://www.diariocontrapoderenchiapas.com/index.php/estado/2229-campana-contra-matrimonio-gay-en-chiapas. 3 September 2014. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Photoimage of document . JPG . Snag.gy . 2015-07-03 . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051311/https://snag.gy/H2TUY.jpg . live .
  9. Web site: Gana colectivo gay amparo para celebrar bodas en Chiapas. Hermes Chávez. Milenio. 26 May 2016. 21 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621085556/http://www.milenio.com/estados/bodas_gay-chiapas_celebra_bodas_gay-ganan_amparo_bodas_chiapas_0_475152692.html. live.
  10. Web site: Contraviene Congreso de Chiapas resolución de SCJN sobre matrimonio gay. Agencia Multimedios. muralchiapas.com. 26 May 2016. 1 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181201062220/https://muralchiapas.com/index.php/noticias/estatal/1146-contraviene-congreso-de-chiapas-resolucion-de-scjn-sobre-matrimonio-gay. live.
  11. Web site: Niega Congreso haber interpuesto recurso de revisión para evitar matrimonio igualitario en Chiapas. chiapasparalelo.com. 8 April 2015. 26 May 2016. 28 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180828025553/https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2015/04/niega-congreso-haber-interpuesto-recurso-de-revision-para-evitar-matrimonio-igualitario-en-chiapas/. live.
  12. Web site: Miente Congreso del Estado sobre matrimonio igualitario. chiapasparalelo.com. 17 April 2015. 26 May 2016. 9 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180709192817/https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2015/04/miente-congreso-del-estado-sobre-matrimonio-igualitario/. live.
  13. Web site: SCJN avala matrimonios gay en Nuevo León, Hidalgo y Chiapas. 28 September 2016. El Financiero. 1 November 2016. 30 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190130111705/https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/scjn-avala-matrimonios-gay-en-nuevo-leon-hidalgo-y-chiapas.html. live.
  14. Web site: 51 chiapanecos esperan fallo para contraer matrimonio igualitario . Oye Chiapas . 5 May 2016 . 26 May 2016 . 12 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171112193219/http://oyechiapas.com/estado/tuxtla-gutierrez/17526-51-chiapanecos-esperan-fallo-para-contraer-matrimonio-igualitario.html . live .
  15. Web site: Se realiza el primer matrimonio igualitario en Chiapas . Alerta Chiapas . 4 May 2016 . 26 May 2016 . 22 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422015426/https://alertachiapas.com/2016/05/04/se-realiza-el-primer-matrimonio-igualitario-en-chiapas/ . live .
  16. Web site: Juez resuelve a favor de matrimonio de pareja gay en Chiapas. La Jornada. 17 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160719190533/http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2016/07/17/juez-resuelve-a-favor-de-pareja-gay-en-chiapas. 19 July 2016.
  17. Web site: Homosexuales en Chiapas dicen no al matrimonio del mismo sexo - De Facto. defacto.com.mx. 26 May 2016. 4 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140904000215/http://www.defacto.com.mx/v2/sureste_nota.php?id=1883. live.
  18. Web site: Piden organizaciones al Congreso aprobar matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. chiapasparalelo.com. 7 December 2013. 26 May 2016. 22 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190422054104/https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2013/12/piden-organizaciones-al-congreso-aprobar-matrimonio-entre-personas-del-mismo-sexo/. live.
  19. Web site: Turnan al Congreso de Chiapas iniciativa para legalizar los matrimonios gay. Proceso. 26 May 2016. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160118071807/http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=359186. live.
  20. Web site: Rechaza Congreso de Chiapas iniciativa ciudadana para legalizar matrimonio homosexual. Your Site NAME Goes HERE. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140803012721/http://revoluciontrespuntocero.com/rechaza-congreso-de-chiapas-iniciativa-ciudadana-para-legalizar-matrimonio-homosexual/. 3 August 2014. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: Interpondrán recurso de revisión ante magistrados por caso de matrimonio igualitario. chiapasparalelo.com. 10 June 2014. 26 May 2016. 22 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190422034020/https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2014/06/interpondran-recurso-de-revision-ante-magistrados-por-caso-de-matrimonio-igualitario/. live.
  22. Web site: Gays de Chiapas meterán amparo pro Matrimonio Igualitario. idl.com.mx. 26 May 2016. 29 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190129183159/http://idl.com.mx/gays-de-chiapas-meteran-amparo-pro-matrimonio-igualitario/. live.
  23. Web site: Denuncian ante la CIDH negativa de autoridades de Chiapas para legalizar bodas gay. Proceso. 26 May 2016. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160118071807/http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=389290. live.
  24. Web site: Entra a la CIDH queja hacía el Congreso del Estado. Oye Chiapas. 6 May 2015. es. 18 June 2022. 18 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220618141459/https://oyechiapas.com/estado/tuxtla-gutierrez/2610-a-la-cidh-queja-hacia-el-congreso-del-estado.html. live.
  25. Web site: Activistas interpusieron ante Comisión Interamericana recurso para que Chiapas legalice matrimonio igualitario. Chiapas Paralelo. 5 August 2015. es. 18 June 2022. 20 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220220220205/https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2015/08/activistas-interpusieron-ante-comision-interamericana-recurso-para-que-chiapas-legalice-matrimonio-igualitario/. live.
  26. Web site: A unos pasos de legalizar los matrimonios "gay" en Chiapas. Noticiasnet. 26 May 2016. 3 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903140801/http://www.noticiasnet.mx/portal/chiapas/general/legislativas/198528-unos-pasos-de-legalizar-los-matrimonios-gay-en-chiapas. live.
  27. Web site: Consensan iniciativa para unión legal entre personas del mismo sexo . 11 June 2016 . 9 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009120450/http://www.oem.com.mx/elheraldodechiapas/notas/n4194765.htm . live .
  28. Web site: Congreso de Chiapas bloquea iniciativa sobre bodas gay, denuncian activistas . Henríquez, Elio . La Jornada en línea . 14 June 2016 . 17 July 2016 . 23 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161223230216/http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2016/06/14/congreso-de-chiapas-bloquea-iniciativa-sobre-bodas-gay-denuncian-activistas . live .
  29. Web site: Chiapas . Isaí López El Heraldo de . Congreso no pretende reformar el Código Civil en diversidad sexual . 2022-06-22 . El Heraldo de Chiapas Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Chiapas y el Mundo . es.
  30. Índice de Acciones de Inconstitucionalidad
  31. Web site: Activistas van contra prohibición de bodas gay en Chiapas . Proceso . 4 May 2016 . es . 26 May 2016 . 30 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053057/https://www.proceso.com.mx/439588/activistas-van-contra-prohibicion-bodas-gay-en-chiapas . live .
  32. News: Reyes. Juan Pablo. Suprema Corte avala el matrimonio igualitario en Chiapas. 11 July 2017. Excélsior. 11 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711211747/http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2017/07/11/1175019. 11 July 2017. Mexico City, Mexico. es.
  33. News: Lastirl. Diana. Avala Suprema Corte bodas gay en Chiapas. 11 July 2017. El Universal. 11 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711213353/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/nacion/sociedad/2017/07/11/avala-suprema-corte-corte-bodas-gay-en-chiapas. 11 July 2017. Mexico City, Mexico. es.
  34. Web site: Celebran primera boda igualitaria en Chiapas. 31 July 2017. El Universal. https://web.archive.org/web/20170802084652/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/estados/2017/07/31/celebran-primera-boda-igualitaria-en-chiapas. 2 August 2017. Mexico City, Mexico. es.
  35. Ya son legales las bodas entre personas del mismo sexo en Chiapas
  36. Web site: SENTENCIA dictada por el Tribunal Pleno de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación en la Acción de Inconstitucionalidad 32/2016, así como los Votos Concurrentes formulados por los ministros Eduardo Medina Mora I., Luis María Aguilar Morales y Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea.. SCJN. es. 18 June 2022. 9 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609171355/http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5522400&fecha=11%2F05%2F2018. live.
  37. Parejas gay en Chiapas podrán adoptar, acceder a la salud…
  38. Web site: Se han realizado en Chiapas más de 300 matrimonios igualitarios. 12 June 2018. Diario de Palenque. es. 18 June 2018. 18 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125745/https://www.diariodepalenque.com.mx/2018/06/se-han-realizado-en-chiapas-mas-de-300-matrimonios-igualitarios/. live.
  39. Encuesta nacional 2017, Gabinete de Comunicación Estratégica
    1. Data | ¿Quién está en contra del matrimonio gay?

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