http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E0DA1F3FF933A25752C1A9609C8B63
November 10, 2006
Americas: Mexico: Capital Legalizes Gay Civil Unions
By ANTONIO BETANCOURT (NYT)
After an intense debate and opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, Mexico City's legislature voted to give legal status to civil unions between homosexuals, extending those couples benefits similar to married heterosexual couples. The mayor is expected to sign the measure into law, which would be the first for this mainly Catholic country. The bill does not allow gays to marry but will let them register their unions with the government and be granted the right to inherit property and receive the pension and social benefits of their partners. The measure passed 43 to 17, with supporters coming from the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution and the opponents from the ranks of the National Action Party of President Vicente Fox. ANTONIO BETANCOURT (NYT)