Mexican President calls for nationwide legalization of same sex marriage

By Jezebel Admin  |  May 18, 2016 | 2:48pm
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Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced Tuesday that his administration will introduce a constitutional reform to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.

“The right to join in marriage constitutes a fundamental right related to people’s self-determination, through which they make essential decisions about their lives and identity, including how and with whom to share their life,” reads the initiative, which was announced in commemoration of International Day Against Homophobia.

The president’s initiative follows the Supreme Court’s ruling last year that overturned state laws defining marriage as a union “to be celebrated between a man and a woman.”

Peña Nieto is now asking Congress to reform Article 4 in Mexico’s Constitution to allow any person 18 and older to marry anyone regardless of “ethnicity, nationality, gender, disabilities, social conditions, health conditions, religion, sexual preferences or any other factor that harms human dignity.”

The presidency also launched a digital campaign through several hashtags to raise awareness against discrimination and frame the debate around human rights.

“Let’s leave labels for products not people #WithoutTags #WithoutHomophobia.”

Many Mexicans took to social media to recognize Peña Nieto for the historic gesture.

“Let’s also recognize the good, when it happens → the announcement Enrique Peña Nieto made today for #WithoutHomophobia.”

“Yesterday Los Pinos (Mexican White House) was illuminated like this #WithoutHomophobia.”

 
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