Same-sex marriage in Yucatán explained

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Yucatán since 4 March 2022. On 25 August 2021, the Congress of Yucatán removed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. The new law entered into force on 7 September 2021.[1] Congress had 180 days (i.e. until 6 March 2022) to change statutory law to accommodate same-sex marriage, and did so unanimously on 1 March. The law took effect three days later, and made Yucatán the 25th Mexican state to legalize same-sex marriage.

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.[2]

On 26 March 2013, a male couple, Ricardo Arturo Góngora and Javier Alberto Carrillo Esquivel, went to the civil registry office in Mérida to marry. The civil registry rejected their application for a marriage license, arguing that the State Constitution defined marriage as the "union of a man and a woman" and that same-sex couples were therefore unable to legally marry. The couple challenged the decision, and on 1 July the Third District Court recognized that they had the right to marry. The government announced it would not appeal the court ruling,[3] and the couple became the first same-sex couple to marry in Yucatán, on 8 August 2013.[4] Following this first same-sex marriage in the state, six more couples, four male and two female, applied for marriage licenses on 14 August 2013. They filed individual amparos in court, with 3 of them being approved on 4 and 15 November and 17 December 2013 by the courts in the First, Fourth and Third District, respectively. Both of the lesbian couples and one male couple were granted the right to marry.[5] On 6 January 2014, the first lesbian marriage in Yucatán took place in Mérida.[6] The second lesbian couple married on 25 January,[7] [8] and the male couple were married in Mérida on 18 February 2014.[9] On 17 May 2014, a group of civil society organizations filed suit with the Constitutional Court of Yucatán, claiming that 10 amparos for same-sex marriage rights had been approved in the state in the previous months, but Congress still refused to amend state laws to permit same-sex marriage. The plaintiffs asked that article 49 of the Family Code and Article 94 of the Constitution, which limited marriage to "one man and one woman", be "considered in the broadest sense and that the gender of its members be undefined."[10] On 26 February 2015, the court announced that it would decide on 2 March whether the state ban on same-sex marriage was in violation of the Constitution of Mexico and international agreements.[11] Instead, on 2 March the court dismissed the challenge. Activists vowed to appeal the decision.[12] They filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in June 2015. The activists argued that the ban was unconstitutional as the Mexican Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.[13] After postponing a hearing five times, the Mexican Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit on 31 May 2017.[14]

From January 2017 to March 2017, 15 same-sex couples married in Yucatán using the recurso de amparo remedy, compared to 16 couples who married in all of 2016.[15]

Constitutional restrictions

On 21 July 2009, the Congress of Yucatán overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in a 24–1 vote. The law, promoted by the right-wing organization Pro Yucatán Network, raised heterosexual marriage and families to the constitutional level. Specifically, Article 94 was amended to read that marriage is "the union of a man and a woman". This was widely seen as an attempt to reject efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in the state, as any attempts to permit same-sex marriage in the future would likewise require a constitutional amendment and a two-thirds majority in Congress. Politicians from the conservative National Action Party (PAN) justified the ban, alleging that "there still aren't adequate conditions within Yucatán society to allow for unions between people of the same sex".[16] The event led to protests outside the local Congress by LGBT organizations.[17]

Political partyMembersYesNo
Institutional Revolutionary Party14 14
National Action Party9 9
Party of the Democratic Revolution1 1
Labor Party / Convergence1 1
Total25241

Yucatán had been one of only four Mexican states to enact a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage; the others being Baja California,[18] Colima,[19] and Morelos.[20] As of September 2021, all four of these bans have been repealed.

Legalisation efforts

On 24 May 2016, a prominent member of the state Congress said that Yucatán would wait for the federal Congress of the Union to legislate on same-sex marriage before taking the necessary steps to amend local laws.[21]

On 15 August 2018, Governor Rolando Zapata Bello introduced bills to amend the state Constitution and Family Code to legalize same-sex marriage.[22] [23] On 10 April 2019, Congress rejected the bill in a 9–15 vote.[24] In response to the failure to pass the legislation, the 17th Pride Parade in Mérida saw the unprecedented participation of around 8,000 people.[25] [26] A second attempt at legalizing same-sex marriage failed on 15 July 2019, again with 15 votes against and 9 votes in favor.[27] [28] In both cases, Congress voted against same-sex marriage in a secret vote, without the public being able to have knowledge of the votes cast by their representatives. This was controversial, and several activists from the Collective for the Protection of All Families of Yucatán (Colectivo de Protección de Todas las Familias de Yucatán) and other advocacy groups filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation arguing that this was unconstitutional. On 18 August 2021, the Supreme Court ordered an "open and transparent" re-vote in Congress.[29] Two months earlier, a federal court in Sinaloa had ordered that state's Congress to legalize same-sex marriage, with any legislators voting against to be found in contempt of court and unable to run for or hold office for seven years. Fearful that lawmakers in Yucatán could face similar charges, the state Congress was widely expected to approve a same-sex marriage bill in the coming days.[30]

Legislation to remove the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was sponsored by deputies Milagros Romero Bastarrachea and Silvia López Scoffie. It was approved unanimously by a Congress committee,[31] and a plenary vote was scheduled for Wednesday, 25 August 2021. Congress passed the bill on a 20–5 vote on 25 August, reaching the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution.[32] [33] [34] [35] Deputy Karla Franco Blanco said that the passage of the bill "is in line with the fundamental principle that every individual has the right to enjoy freedoms, equal rights and protection from discrimination, as provided by the Political Constitution of [Mexico]." The law was published in the state's official gazette on 6 September 2021, and took effect the following day.[36] Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal praised the vote.[37]

Article 94 of the Constitution of Yucatán was amended as follows:[38]

Provisions relating to concubinage were also amended:

Political partyMembersYesNoAbstain
Institutional Revolutionary Party1082
National Action Party633
National Regeneration Movement44
Citizens' Movement22
Party of the Democratic Revolution11
Ecologist Green Party of Mexico11
New Alliance Party11
Total252050

Although Congress modified the Constitution to recognize same-sex marriages, it did not amend the state's Family Code. Milagros Romero Bastarrachea, deputy for the Citizens' Movement party and one of the proponents of the bill, said in an interview with the media that the state would amend all secondary laws within 180 days of the bill's publication (i.e. by 6 March 2022).[39] A bill to reform the secondary laws to legalize same-sex marriage was introduced to Congress on 15 December 2021 by Deputy Vila Goméz Herrera.[40] It was approved unanimously by a Congress committee on 26 February,[41] and in a 25–0 vote by the full Congress on 1 March 2022.[42] The law was published in the official gazette on 3 March, and took effect the following day. The first same-sex couple to marry in Yucatán following legalization were Irving Suárez and Luciano Martínez, a couple for 18 years, on 4 March in Mérida.[43]

Political partyMembersYesNoAbstain
National Action Party1414
National Regeneration Movement44
Institutional Revolutionary Party33
Citizens' Movement11
Party of the Democratic Revolution11
Ecologist Green Party of Mexico11
New Alliance Party11
Total252500

In public discourse, same-sex marriage is commonly known as Spanish; Castilian: matrimonio igualitario or Spanish; Castilian: matrimonio para todos in Spanish, and as ts'o'okol beel tia'al tuláakal in Yucatec Maya. The latter two meaning "marriage for all".

Public opinion

According to a 2018 survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, 43% of the Yucatán public opposed same-sex marriage.[44]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-09-08. Yucatán: Ya es legal el matrimonio igualitario; publican decreto oficial Marcrix Noticias. 2021-09-08. es. 2021-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210908151948/https://www.marcrixnoticias.com/yucatan-ya-es-legal-el-matrimonio-igualitario-publican-decreto-oficial/. live.
  2. News: Mexico supreme court says state laws limiting marriage to man and woman unconstitutional . Minneapolis Star Tribune . 12 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150614004959/http://www.startribune.com/mexico-supreme-court-opens-door-to-gay-marriage-nationwide/307197801/ . 14 June 2015.
  3. Web site: Preparan primera boda gay en Yucatán; gobierno no impugnará. Proceso. 15 July 2013. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113850/https://data.proceso.com.mx/?p=347506. live.
  4. Web site: Celebran primer matrimonio gay en Yucatán. CONAPRED. 11 August 2013. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113850/https://www.conapred.org.mx/index.php?contenido=noticias&id=4253&id_opcion=&op=4477. live.
  5. Web site: Avanza reconocimiento de matrimonio homosexual en Yucatán. 2013-12-19. 2015-10-19. 2014-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106062143/http://www.redtdt.org.mx/d_comunicados.php?id_comunicado=1774&descargable=.
  6. Web site: Libertad de Expresión Yucatán: Celebran primera boda entre dos mujeres en Yucatán. informaciondelonuevo.com. 2021-08-27. 2019-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103835/http://www.informaciondelonuevo.com/2014/01/celebran-primera-boda-entre-dos-mujeres.html. live.
  7. Web site: Tras amparo, se realizará segundo Matrimonio Igualitario en Yucatán . December 27, 2013 . Midopen . March 22, 2021 . Spanish . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903100959/http://www.revistamidopen.com/2013/12/tras-amparo-se-realizara-segundo-matrimonio-igualitario-en-yucatan/ . 3 September 2014.
  8. Web site: Libertad de Expresión Yucatán: Celebran tercera boda gay en Yucatán. informaciondelonuevo.com. 2021-08-27. 2019-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103834/http://www.informaciondelonuevo.com/2014/01/celebran-tercera-boda-gay-en-yucatan.html. live.
  9. Web site: 4 "bodas gays" en Yucatán y contando. SDPnoticias.com. 2021-08-27. 2019-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103845/https://www.sdpnoticias.com/gay/2014/02/18/4-bodas-gays-en-yucatan-y-contando. live.
  10. Web site: Denuncia contra Congreso de Yucatán abre la puerta a matrimonios gay. Animal Político. 17 May 2014. 27 August 2021. 9 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035447/https://www.animalpolitico.com/2014/05/denuncia-contra-congreso-de-yucatan-abre-la-puerta-matrimonios-gay/#axzz3Bkz3F0dO. live.
  11. Web site: Bajo análisis una demanda en contra del Congreso estatal – El Diario de Yucatán. https://archive.today/20150227064838/http://yucatan.com.mx/merida/gobierno-merida/bajo-analisis-una-demanda-en-contra-del-congreso-estatal. dead. 2015-02-27. El Diario de Yucatán.
  12. News: El Tribunal de Yucatán rechaza que Congreso estatal legisle sobre matrimonios gay. Castrillón. Luis. 2 March 2015. 3 March 2015. Animal Político. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103844/https://www.animalpolitico.com/2015/03/el-tribunal-de-yucatan-rechaza-un-recurso-para-que-el-congreso-estatal-legisle-sobre-matrimonios-gay/. live.
  13. Web site: Organizaciones civiles demandan a tribunal de Yucatán por obstaculizar el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. Animal Político. 14 June 2015. 27 August 2021. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103841/https://www.animalpolitico.com/2015/06/organizaciones-civiles-demandan-a-tribunal-de-yucatan-por-obstaculizar-el-matrimonio-entre-personas-del-mismo-sexo/. live.
  14. Web site: Indignación | La Suprema Corte en retroceso de sus propios criterios sobre las Omisiones Legislativas en los Estados y el Matrimonio Igualitario. redtdt.org.mx. June 2017. 2021-08-27. 2020-03-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20200310063741/https://redtdt.org.mx/?p=8727. live.
  15. Web site: Permiten amparos 15 bodas gay en lo que va del año. 17 March 2017. Tribuna Campeche. 27 August 2021. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103832/http://tribunacampeche.com/yucatan/2017/03/17/permiten-amparos-15-bodas-gay-lo-va-del-ano/. live.
  16. Web site: Jennifer Woodard Maderazo . Vivir Latino . Yucatan Will Penalize Gay Marriage, Abortion . 22 July 2009 . 27 November 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100102174852/http://vivirlatino.com/2009/07/22/yucatan-will-penalize-gay-marriage-abortion.php . 2 January 2010.
  17. Web site: Anodis . Aprueba Yucatán ley contra matrimonio gay . 21 July 2009 . 15 December 2009 . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190920/http://anodis.com/nota/14423.asp . 16 December 2013.
  18. Web site: Baja California Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage In Third Attempt. kyma.com. 16 June 2021. 28 August 2021. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828112553/https://kyma.com/news/top-stories/2021/06/16/baja-california-legalizes-same-sex-marriage-in-third-attempt/. live.
  19. Web site: Congreso de Colima avala los matrimonios gay en medio de protestas. Proceso. 25 May 2016. es. 28 August 2021. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828121059/https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/estados/2016/5/25/congreso-de-colima-avala-los-matrimonios-gay-en-medio-de-protestas-164773.html. live.
  20. News: Periódico Oficial .
  21. Web site: Yucatán esperará a que el Congreso federal legisle . May 24, 2016 . Puntomedio . Spanish . https://web.archive.org/web/20160609194958/http://www.puntomedio.com.mx/yucatan/2016/05/24/yucatan-esperara-a-que-el-congreso-federal-legisle/49538/ . 9 June 2016 . March 22, 2021.
  22. Web site: Yucatán's governor sends marriage equality bill to legislature. 17 August 2018. Yucatán Expat Life. 27 August 2021. 23 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323103834/https://yucatanexpatlife.com/yucatans-governor-sends-marriage-equality-bill-to-legislature/. live.
  23. Web site: ORDEN DEL DÍA DE LA SESIÓN DE LA DIPUTACIÓN PERMANENTE MIÉRCOLES 15 DE AGOSTO DEL AÑO 2018. 2021-08-27. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214520/http://www.congresoyucatan.gob.mx/repositorio/ordenes/15-08-2018.pdf. live.
  24. Web site: Congreso de Yucatán no aprueba el matrimonio igualitario | La Jornada Maya. www.lajornadamaya.mx. 2021-08-27. 2019-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410190951/https://www.lajornadamaya.mx/2019-04-10/Congreso-de-Yucatan-no-aprueba-el-matrimonio-igualitario. live.
  25. News: Rejón . Katia . Gran concurrencia en Marcha de la Diversidad Sexual de Mérida . 22 June 2019 . . 9 June 2019 . Mexico City, Mexico . es . Great occurrence of the March of Sexual Diversity in Mérida . 22 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622152902/https://www.lajornadamaya.mx/2019-06-09/Gran-concurrencia-en-Marcha-de-la-Diversidad-Sexual-de-Merida . live .
  26. News: Manrique . José . Comunidad LGTB mostró ayer su poder de convocatoria . 22 June 2019 . . 9 June 2019 . https://archive.today/20190622152232/https://www.poresto.net/2019/06/09/comunidad-lgtb-mostro-ayer-su-poder-de-convocatoria/ . 22 June 2019 . Mérida, Mexico . es . Yesterday the LGBT Community demonstrated its power to convene.
  27. Web site: Vuelven a rechazar matrimonio igualitario en Yucatán. Informador QR. 15 July 2019. es. Ricalde. Jesús. 27 August 2021. 17 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220617142100/https://www.informadorqr.com/2019/07/vuelven-rechazar-matrimonio-igualitario.html. live.
  28. Web site: Yucatan legislature again rejects law allowing same-sex marriage. Yucatán Magazine. 15 July 2019. 28 August 2021. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828112553/https://yucatanmagazine.com/yucatan-legislature-again-rejects-law-allowing-same-sex-marriage/. live.
  29. Web site: El Supremo mexicano ordena a Yucatán repetir la votación sobre matrimonio gay. swissinfo.ch. 18 August 2021. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113849/https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/m%C3%A9xico-lgtb_el-supremo-mexicano-ordena-a-yucat%C3%A1n-repetir-la-votaci%C3%B3n-sobre-matrimonio-gay/46879182. live.
  30. Web site: Poder Judicial ordena al Congreso de Sinaloa aprobar el matrimonio igualitario. Noroeste. 13 June 2021. es. 28 August 2021. 27 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627194250/https://www.noroeste.com.mx/culiacan/poder-judicial-ordena-al-congreso-de-sinaloa-aprobar-el-matrimonio-igualitario-FK1059214. live.
  31. Web site: Congreso de Yucatán aprueba matrimonio igualitario en comisiones. PorEsto!. 16 August 2021. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113850/https://www.poresto.net/yucatan/2021/8/16/congreso-de-yucatan-aprueba-matrimonio-igualitario-en-comisiones-272697.html. live.
  32. Web site: Equal marriage was finally approved in Yucatan. Yucatán Times. 26 August 2021. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113850/https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2021/08/equal-marriage-was-finally-approved-in-yucatan/. live.
  33. Web site: Aprueban matrimonio igualitario en Yucatán. La Jornada. 25 August 2021. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827020022/https://www.jornada.com.mx/notas/2021/08/25/estados/aprueban-matrimonio-igualitario-en-yucatan/. live.
  34. Web site: Le LXII Legislatura tu aprobartaj le Matrimonio Igualitario ti'al u lu'umil Yucatán. Congreso del Estado de Yucatán. 25 August 2021. Yucatec Maya. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113850/http://www.congresoyucatan.gob.mx/#/infomaya/nota/92. live.
  35. Web site: Yucatán aprueba el matrimonio igualitario con una amplia mayoría. El País. 26 August 2021. es. 2021-08-28. 2021-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828175556/https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-08-26/yucatan-aprueba-el-matrimonio-igualitario-con-una-amplia-mayoria.html. live.
  36. Web site: Decreto 413/2021. www.te.gob.mx. es.
  37. Web site: Mauricio Vila Llama a respetar la decisión del Congreso sobre el matrimonio igualitario. PorEsto!. 25 August 2021. es. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827113851/https://www.poresto.net/yucatan/2021/8/25/mauricio-vila-llama-respetar-la-decision-del-congreso-sobre-el-matrimonio-igualitario-275186.html. live.
  38. Web site: La Jornada Maya. 25 August 2021. es. 28 August 2021. 28 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210828112551/https://www.lajornadamaya.mx/yucatan/178909/matrimonio-igualitario-que-dice-el-articulo-94-en-yucatan. live.
  39. Web site: En espera de que publiquen cambio. Diario de Yucatán. 27 August 2021. es. 28 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827200553/https://www.yucatan.com.mx/merida/en-espera-de-que-publiquen-cambio. live.
  40. Web site: Matrimonio igualitario en Yucatán, 'tema prioritario' durante segundo periodo del Congreso. Poresto. 16 December 2021. es. 18 December 2021. 18 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218154700/https://www.poresto.net/yucatan/2021/12/16/matrimonio-igualitario-en-yucatan-tema-prioritario-durante-segundo-periodo-del-congreso-305530.html. live.
  41. Web site: Aprueban en Comisión Dictanen en Materia de Matrimonio Igualitario. 26 February 2022. es. Yucatán Ahora!. 27 February 2022. 27 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220227102331/https://yucatanahora.mx/aprueban-en-comision-dictamen-en-materia-de-matrimonio-igualitario/. live.
  42. Web site: Reforma al matrimonio igualitario en Yucatán en adelantada sesión por día inhábil. Diario de Yucatán. 25 February 2021. es. 25 February 2022. 25 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225213354/https://www.yucatan.com.mx/merida/2022/2/25/reforma-al-matrimonio-igualitario-en-yucatan-en-adelantada-sesion-por-dia-inhabil-301375.html. live.
  43. Web site: Matrimonio igualitario: Irving y Luciano sufrieron discriminación el día de su boda en Progreso, Yucatán. El Universal. 4 March 2022. es. 10 March 2022. 9 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309210917/https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/matrimonio-igualitario-irving-y-luciano-sufrieron-discriminacion-el-dia-de-su-boda-en-progreso-yucatan. live.
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