( CNN ) -- The government of Argentina 's capital will not appeal a court decision this week that legalizes same-sex marriage , Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri said Friday . The court ruled that two articles in the city 's civil code that say only people of different sexes can get married are illegal . The court decision applies only to Buenos Aires . Same-sex unions in most of the rest of Argentina remain illegal . The legal challenge was initiated by a gay couple , Alejandro Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello . Judge Gabriela Seijas ordered the city 's civil registry department to honor their union . `` The law should treat each person with equal respect in relation to each person 's singularities without the need to understand or regulate them , '' the judge said in her ruling . The city code prevents people from `` enjoying the rights that couples who enter into matrimony are entitled to , '' she said . Those rights include inheritances , pensions and the ability to make decisions for the other person when he or she is incapacitated . Macri called the ruling a `` very important step , '' adding that `` we have to live together and accept reality . ... The world is headed in that direction . '' His decision was not easy , Macri said . Many people wanted him to appeal . `` I had an important internal debate , weighing my upbringing with my search for the best customs and best liberties for society , '' he said in a videotaped message on his Facebook page . `` What we have to learn is to live in liberty without violating the rights of others , '' he said . Macri likened the current debate over same-sex marriage to a similar discourse years ago . `` It 's the same as happened with divorce several decades ago -- a very intense debate . And today it is something very natural , '' the mayor said . Judge Seijas issued the ruling Wednesday but it did not become public knowledge until Thursday , when it was posted on the court 's Web site . Brazil , Colombia , Ecuador and Uruguay are also addressing the issue of same-sex civil unions .
Civil code that says only people of different sex can get married is illegal , he rules . This applies only to Buenos Aires ; same - sex marriages in most of Argentina remain illegal . ` ` What we have to learn is to live in liberty without violating the rights of others , '' mayor says .