Mexico City hosted a mass celebration for hundreds of same-sex couples and transgender people on Friday, a day before the city’s annual gay pride march.
The event, organized by the city government, allowed couples to formalize their marriages and individuals to complete administrative processes to change their gender identity.
“We are very happy because we are finally getting married after 10 years of living together,” said Claudia Gonzalez, who tied the knot with her partner Karla Lopez at a civil registry office.
“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and we are grateful to the authorities for making it possible,” Lopez added.
Mexico City legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, becoming the first Latin American city to do so. It also allows transgender people to change their legal name and gender without a court order.
However, LGBT+ rights activists say there is still discrimination and violence against the community in Mexico, where more than 100 hate crimes were reported last year, according to a civil society group.
“We still face many challenges, such as homophobia, transphobia, hate crimes and lack of access to health and education,” said Diana Sanchez Barrios, a transgender activist who also participated in the ceremony.
“But today we celebrate our love and our identity with pride and joy,” she said.
