The president of Mexico is leading a renewed push to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the country.
President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a reform measure for the Mexican constitution to allow same-sex couples in all states and municipalities. Nieto took action in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
\u201cPor un @Mexico incluyente que reconoce en la diversidad, una de sus mayores fortalezas #SinHomofobia.\u201d— Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto (@Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto) 1463513134
Mexico's congress must approve the reform before the change can take effect.
Seven Mexican states and capital Mexico City have legalized same-sex marriage. In 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court found state bans on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional.
The president's stance is a welcome change in the world's second-largest Catholic country. LGBT rights have made significant advances in predominantly Catholic countries recently, despite resistance from conservative with close ties to the Church. Last week, Italy--home of the Vatican--approved same-sex civil unions after significant negotiations with the conservative wing of the country's parliament.
