Mexican state of Colima allows same-sex civil unions

Colima became the latest Mexican state to allow same-sex civil unions on Monday after a majority of lawmakers passed a change in the state's constitution.

Same-sex union legislation falls under state regulation in Mexico and many states have different rules.

Mexico City and the southern state of Quintana Roo both allow gay marriage, while Coahuila allows same-sex civil unions. Yucatan, meanwhile, banned same-sex marriage in 2009.

Out of 10 Colima authorities, seven approved the constitutional change, which was already passed by the state's congress earlier this month.

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Only two congressmen voted against the motion, arguing that same-sex couple should not be restricted to civil unions and should be legally allowed to marry.

News of the change in Colima came on the same day that Pope Francis told reporters that gay people should not be marginalized, but integrated into society, and that he would not judge gay priests, whose sins should be forgiven and forgotten.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" he told reporters on his way back to the Vatican from Brazil, where he celebrated World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro and Aparecida.

Uruguay also already legalized gay marriage earlier this year, while Argentina did the same in 2010.