The legal recognition of same-sex civil unions has been approved this month in Mexico City, a step that would provide gay couples with social benefits like those of married heterosexuals for the first time in the country’s history.

Reuters reports that the capital’s municipal assembly, controlled by left-wing legislators, voted for the measure 43-17 as hundreds of rival protesters demonstrated noisily outside the building.

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The bill would grant gay couples inheritance and spousal rights and allow them to register their unions with civil authorities. Heterosexual couples can also be registered under the new law.