Call it an anomaly or call it irony: While debate and legal maneuvers roil around Prop. 8 in California, in Mexico — Catholic, traditional, macho Mexico — gay civil unions have been legalized in Mexico City and the entire northern border state of Coahila. Michoacán and Veracruz states are on the verge of passing similar measures, and gay rights legislation is under consideration in Colima, Jalisco, Guerrero and Puebla states.

To be sure, homosexuality is still fairly closeted — many gay Mexicans staunchly maintain a macho front, and the lesbian scene is still mostly underground — but in general Mexico's attitude toward homosexuality is surprisingly liberal, especially in larger cities. Mexicans do prefer more discretion in public than we are accustomed to in the United States, but gay travelers will find a warm welcome in much of the country. In fact, PlanetOut, the San Francisco media company serving the gay and lesbian market, named Mexico its 2007 travel destination of the year.

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