Mexico's largest state approves same-sex marriage 

The Congress of the State of Mexico, one of the 32 federal federal entities in the United Mexican States, voted on Tuesday to legally recognize same-sex marriage, becoming the latest state to recognize the measure. 

"Equal marriage is a public institution, whereby two people freely decide to share a life," said the state’s legislative body. 

Mexican lawmakers passed the bill with 50 votes in favor of the legalization against 16 who opposed it. 

The State of Mexico, the country’s most populous state with a population of close to 17 million inhabitants, became the 29th state out of 32 to recognize same-sex marriage. The approval follows other recent legalizations by the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. 

“Today, by becoming the 29th state to approve equal marriage, we will be reducing inequality, and letting the country know that in the State of Mexico we do not leave anybody behind,” said state legislator Paola Jiménez.

Mexico City was the first area in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009. Soon after, Argentina became the first country in Latin American country to legalize it nationwide in 2010. 

Same-sex marriage has been a contended issue in several Latin American countries. Currently, same-sex marriage is not recognized in most of Central America, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, and many Caribbean nations.