Way to go Mexican Supreme Court!

Yesterday, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled 9-2 that all states must legally recognize all same-sex marriages issued in Mexico City, where these became legal this past March. This does not mean however that the states need to enact same-sex marriages of their own. As early as Thursday they might decide on the constitutionality of adoption by these couples. Keep your fingers crossed.

This is a big deal. Not even all 50 U. S. states recognize same-sex marriages done in our own capital, DC.

I'm proud of you Mexico.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos!

Today is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead! Dia de los Muertos, which falls on November 2 every year, commemorates and celebrates the life of those who have died. This holiday is celebrated throughout many Latin American countries. Although this day has indigenous roots, it coincides with and is tied to All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday. Many families will visit gravesites, create home alters decorated with flowers, food, candles and pictures of their loved ones in honor of their deceased friend or family member.

For me, Dia de Los Muertos is filled with great memories of attending community events that not only celebrate my ancestors but also my culture. Decorating sugar skulls, making paper masks, and having my face painted like the kind pictured here are only some of the many ways that I celebrated this holiday as a child.

This holiday is all about celebrating the life that someone led. Throughout the country there are yearly events going on today, including ones taking place in San Francisco, Arizona, and Los Angeles, that commemorate this day, so if you're in the area I invite you to attend. And if not, feel free to learn more about my cultural heritage and take a moment to reflect on the lives of those who are important to you and those who have passed away.

What Happens When Eggs are Classified as People: Eyes on Mexico.

Back in 2007, when Mexico City legalized abortions during the first 12 weeks, many people, both pro-choice and anti-choice, thought that this law would spread to the rest of the country.

Instead, Mexico has seen a backlash, and many states have introduced stricter laws on abortion, even including egg-as-person laws (kind of what like many US states are trying to do, only so far no US state has passed one of these laws.)

The passage of personhood laws in Mexico allows us a grim opportunity to see what could happen in the US if such laws are passed here.

The Atlantic reported various consequences of egg-as-person laws:

Jalisco: punishment for induced abortion is four to 12 months in prison if she doesn't have a "bad reputation," had her abortion in the first 5 months, successfully hid her pregnancy, or became pregnant in an illegitmate union. If she fails one of these requirements, the term DOUBLES; if she fails two, it TRIPLES. Oh, and if a judge says she deserves medical treatment instead of jail time, a counselor will help her reorient herself towards "family values."

Quintana Roo: A woman was imprisoned for "homocide" because she had an abortion

Access to the abortion pill is limited, resulting in shoddy street versions that may endanger a woman's life; plus, when doctors discover use of abortion pill, they send their patients away in handcuffs.

Pro-choice activists are fighting back, and Opinion polls show that 62 percent of Mexicans think the government shouldn't intervene in a woman's right to chose. Until public policy reflects public opinion, however, strict legal restrictions on abortion will continue to put women at risk.

Photo Credit: Petezin on flickr.com

Mujeres de Juarez

Since 1993, the women of Juarez have been victims of unexplained violence and brutal deaths. According to Amnesty International, about 370 women in Juarez have been murdered in the last 15 years.

In recent years, there has been a shift in the women targeted as victims. The common victims were women working in maquiladoras. Maquiladoras were created as a result of the NAFTA treaty agreement. Maquiladoras are factories that would import materials from an originating country, produce a product, and then export the product back to the US.

Due to the process of globalization and the role of women within the much of Mexican culture created the view that women are obedient and flexible with hours and shifts. This theory accounted for why women comprised the assembly line workers of these maquiladoras. The women commonly employed by these maquiladoras in Ciudad Juarez were poor and generally came from other parts of Mexico.

These workers were the common victims in the approximate 370 murders in Juarez. Their bodies were often found with signs of sexual abuse and torture, abandoned in ditches and empty lots.

In the last year and a half, an additional two dozen women and girls have gone missing; however, the victims' profiles have changed. The young women and girls are no longer maquiladora employees. They are university students and women looking for better jobs. The current victims are local residents, who come from working and middle class homes. And all of the young women bear a striking resemblance to each other: slender, conventionally attractive and dark-haired.

Another key element is missing this time around. There are no bodies of the victims. These women are simply missing. The victims' families have also received mysterious phone calls from unknown numbers. With the recent rise of trafficking, some believe that the young women and even girls as young as 13, have been forced into prostitution rings, perhaps in the US.

The recent increase in drug trafficking and drug cartel violence that is overshadowing the country and usurping law enforcement efforts, combined with the corrupt police of Juarez, has led to very little action or investigation into these disappearances. The women of Juarez can no longer be ignored. For 15 years we saw practically zero investigation into the murders of the maquiladora women, to the point where law enforcement was suspected of being a key player in these murders. These disappearances can no longer be brushed aside - we are talking about women's lives!

Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com