BRASILIA, Brazil — The nation’s top appeals court has ruled in favor of two lesbians who got married.

Tuesday’s ruling by Brazil's Supreme Appeals Court overturned two lower court’s ruling against the women, and makes it the highest court in Latin America's largest nation to uphold a gay marriage.

In May, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that gay civil unions could be recognized, but stopped short of recognizing full marriages.

Then in June, a state court judge ruled that two men could legally change their civil union into a full marriage.

Since that time, several couples have petitioned to change their civil unions into full marriages. Some have been approved by lower courts, while others have been denied.

In Latin America, gay marriage is legal in Argentina and Mexico City.