Cuba has legalized marriage equality after Cubans voted in favor of a family code that increased protections for minorities on the island, CNN reported.
With 94% of the votes counted as of 8 a.m. CT on Sept. 26, 3,936,790 had voted in favor and 1,950,090 againstmarking overwhelming support for the new law.
The new family code extends greater protection to women, children and the elderly, and allows LGBTQ+ couples to marry and adopt children.
Mariela Castro, the daughter of former Cuban president Raul Castro, has openly advocated through a government-funded center for improved rights for LGBTQ+ people. However, the push for greater equality faced stiff opposition from both outside and within the Cuban government. Previously, LGBTQ+ people had faced discrimination for decades, even after same-sex relations were legalized in 1979.