Mexico City lawmakers approve gay marriage

Mexico City lawmakers approved gay marriage by a vote of 39-20 on Monday afternoon, becoming the first in Latin America to do so.

On Monday, lawmakers in Mexico City voted 39-20 to legalize gay marriage, becoming the first Latin America congress to legalize it, according to the Associated Press. Leftist Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is expected to sign the decision into law. Although Mexico City is the first to officially legalize gay marriage, there are parts of Latin America that allow civil unions for same sex marriage, according to the BBC . The move was widely apposed by the city's churches and conservative groups, while the leftist mayor fought for it and is expected to sign it into law immediately. The new law will change the city's civic code where marriage is currently defined as "the union of a man and a woman." Once signed, marriage will be defined as "the free uniting of two people" in Mexico City. Gay marriage is allowed in several countries, including Canada, and in several states in the U.S.