Guadalajara, Mexico - Jalisco took a step toward sexual orientation equality this week, when the State Congress approved the Ley de Libre Convivencia - Law of Free Coexistence - with 20 votes in favor, 15 against, and one abstention.

While falling short of legalizing gay marriage or adoption, the new law permits same-sex couples to enter a legal contract enhancing their inheritance rights and eligibility for social security benefits.

The legislation was backed by the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI,) while the right-wing Nation Actional Party (PAN) and the Citizens Movement opposed the bill.

Although the local LGBT community was not entirely happy with the somewhat limited legislation, its passage is still a considerable achievement given that Jalisco is one of Mexico’s most conservative states and the Catholic Church had lobbied hard against the bill, concerned that it would lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption.