Gay-Related Murders Double in Mexico

Despite a government sponsored tolerance campaign and marriage equality in Mexico City, the average number of killings of gays and lesbians per year in Mexico has nearly doubled since 1995, a report released Thursday claims.

Between 2001 and 2009, the average number of murders of gays and lesbians because of their sexual orientation almost doubled from 30 a year between 1995 and 2000, the Associated Press reported.

The report, conducted by a coalition of civil rights groups, is the product of a review of more than 70 newspapers in 11 Mexican states between 1995 and 2000 in comparison to 2001 to 2009.

Mexico City had the most murders, with 144 between 1995 and 2009.

In December the Mexico City legislature approved a law affording same-sex marriages the same status as heterosexual marriages. The same law also allows same-sex couples to adopt children. President Felipe Calderon's administration campaigned against the law.