Mexico City mayor vows to defend gay marriage law, says it doesn’t violate constitution

Mexico City mayor vows to defend gay marriage law

MEXICO CITY — Mexico City’s mayor says he will defend the capital’s gay-marriage law and insists the ordinance will take effect in March despite an appeal by federal prosecutors.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard says the federal appeal on constitutional grounds is wrong. He says nothing in Mexico’s constitution prohibits same-sex marriage or adoption by gay couples.

The city’s legal adviser, Leticia Bonifaz, said Thursday the first gay marriages will be performed in early May while the Supreme Court hears the case.

The federal Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday it filed a challenge with the Supreme Court arguing the law violates constitutional provisions on the family and the protection of children.

The law is a first for Latin America.