Mexico City has approved a bill allowing transgender people the legal right to change gender on official documents without a court order.

Last week, the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District (ALDF) passed the legislation with 42 votes in favor and only six abstaining.

The bill was proposed by Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera on the recommendation of the assembly’s "Commission for Attention to Vulnerable Groups."

"The ALDF complies with constitutional reform to ensure the observance of the fundamental rights of the people, by not allowing discriminatory acts or conduct," said Mayor Ángel Mancera.

Jorge Zepeda Cruz, president of the commission, called the legal changes "inevitable."

In December of 2012, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in favor of three same sex couples wishing to marry in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, in a decision which was seen by some as opening the door to eventually having a federal equal marriage law.

Almost 400 gay couples married in Mexico within the first six months of the law permitting same-sex marriage coming into effect. The law also allowed same sex couples to adopt.