Mexico Begins Allowing Gay Conjugal Visits In Prisons

In many Mexican prisons, inmates are allowed to receive conjugal visits, and most do not require the visitor to be married to the inmate. Special rooms are set aside in many prisons so that inmates and visitors can be alone during such visits.

The decision was prompted by a complaint filed by a man identified only as "Agustin N.," who said he wanted to visit his companion, "Ricardo N.," at the Santa Martha Acatitla prison on the city's east side.

Agustin filed a complaint with the rights commission — which has the power to make recommendations but not to enforce them — saying prison authorities had denied his request because the two are gay.

On Feb. 8 the commission ruled that was discrimination, and prison authorities decided — the statement did not say when — to allow the visit.