by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
Mexico City's law allowing same-sex marriage will take effect in March.
It was approved by the Legislative Assembly on Dec. 21 and published in the official register on Dec. 30.
Legislators voted 39-20 for the bill, which redefines "marriage" as "the free uniting of two people."
The bill also explicitly legalizes adoption by gay couples.
Federal benefits, such as pension, inheritance and social security rights, will remain off-limits to married gay couples without changes in federal law to recognize the Mexico City marriages.
City officials say they hope gay couples will come from around the world to get married. The city is working with travel agencies to offer packages that include flights, hotel, sightseeing, a wedding and a banquet.
Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden; in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province; and in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. It will become legal in March in Washington, D.C., and in Portugal later this year.
