Mexican State and Bans Conversion Therapy and Legalizes Same-Gender Marriage

Groundbreaking strides for LGBTQ rights have been made in the Mexican State of Yucatán. Congress voted to outlaw conversion therapy and legalize same-gender marriage, making them the 22nd Mexican State to do so.

Yucatán’s Congress deliberated in a four-hour session, ruling to pass the same-gender marriage measure. The vote results were 20-5; it’s apparent Congress was more than ready for change in the right direction. Marriage in Yucatán prior to this was defined as “a union solely between opposite-sex couples.” Now, the bill has redefined Article 94 of the states constitution; it now states marriage is “a free and voluntary legal union between two people.”

However, there have been many setbacks along the way. Back in 2019, Yucatán’s Congress rejected measures to legalize same-gender marriage. For years, activist groups continued pushing back against the vote, claiming it was not only unconstitutional, but highly illegal. 

“Today, they have finally done their job of repairing the damage to the LGBTQ+ community by legislating in favor of the recognition of their rights to equality and non-discrimination in the form of marriage and cohabitation,” says activist groups Indignación and Colectivo PTF in Yucatán.

Mexican Legislature continued to support the gays by unanimously voting to ban and criminalize “conversion therapy.” Medical professionals or deranged individuals who continue these dangerous practices will be tried criminally in court and face up to three years in prison. 

“There is much to legislate, public policies to implement, justice to access, and our work will continue there,” the organizers say. “But today, we celebrate this victory, which has been worked for over a decade by our community by countless LGBTQ people and allies,” says Indignación and Colectivo PTF.

These moves are a huge shift towards equality, which benefits the queer community as a whole to help enhance their day to day lives. Queer folks now can not only openly love who they want to love, but marry whomever the hell they’d like to marry without the fear of hate or threat of conversion therapy. Now, we’re waiting for the remaining 11 states who are yet to do so to fall suite.