Context

This article compares civil rights advancements for LGBTQ populations across two federal systems: the United States and Mexico.

* LGBTQ Equality: Examines the extension of legal recognition to same-sex couples

* Federal Systems: Analyzes how national policies contrast with subnational states' approaches

The Puzzle

Commonly, we expect the US - as a more developed nation - to lead in LGBTQ equality.

However, this paper reveals:

* Mexico has extended greater legal rights to same-sex couples for longer than the United States

* This challenges typical assumptions about civil rights progress

Subnational Findings

Analysis at states and provinces shows key drivers include:

* Social movements advocating LGBTQ equality

* Partisan politics influencing policy implementation

* Institutional factors shaping legal recognition processes

The US context features stronger religious opposition, while Mexico's resistance comes from other sources.

Significance

This research demonstrates the value of subnational comparative analysis within federal systems. It shows:

* Rights progress varies significantly among political units

* Different mechanisms drive equality across these states/regions

The heterogeneity within* federations matters as much as national-level influences