Mexico City legalises same-sex marriage

The legislative assembly of Mexico City on Monday legalised same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples.

The assembly voted 39-20, with five lawmakers abstaining, to change the civil code and allow same-sex marriages. Legislators also voted 31-24, with nine abstentions, to legalise adoption by gay couples.

Under the city's civil code, marriage is currently defined as the union of a man and a woman. The new bill changes that to a union of two people.

Legislators had in 2007 approved civil unions for homosexuals.