Thousands upon thousands of marchers and protesters were mobilized last 10 September to protest against gay marriage, challenging President Enrique Peña Nieto's proposal to recognize same-sex marriage throughout the traditionally conservative country.
The marches were called by the National Front for the Family, a coalition of civil society organizations and various religious groups, and continued throughout the day from Mexico’s far north to the Yucatan peninsula.
It was one of the biggest crown mobilization in the last couple of years to protest attempts by the liberals and their ilks to supplant the choice of the majority, which is to get rid of the special treatments demanded by LGBTs.
Same-sex marriage is already permitted in Mexico City, as well as in several states including Coahuila, Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Nayarit, Chihuahua and Sonora. However, Peña Nieto has proposed changing the constitution to allow it nationally. He doesn't want the hand, he wants the whole arm.
The embattled leader, who is grappling with discontent over a slowing economy, conflict-of-interest scandals, drug-gang violence and a visit by the US presidential hopeful Donald Trump that led to his finance minister's ouster, has opened himself to criticism by asking lawmakers to debate gay marriage.
"It's pulling on the noose," said Victor Sanchez, a sociologist at Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana. "This comes as the government is showing a certain sort of fragility in other areas ... and they're taking advantage of the moment."
Peña Nieto says congress should debate and settle the issue of gay marriage.
By mid-day, an estimated 40,000 people converged on the city of Querétaro in central Mexico, during a peaceful 3 to 4 kilometre march through the city, one of the largest gatherings in the country, Civil Protection officers said.
"I think it was something unprecedented, the awakening of the society of Querétaro in defence of the family," said Jose Alcantara, an organizer with the National Front for the Family, adding the group had gathered more than 100,000 signatures against the proposal.
Ary Campos Martinez, a spokesperson for Civil Protection in the city of Puebla in central Mexico, said officers had originally expected roughly 5,000 marchers, but were working to monitor a crowd of approximately 12,000 by midday.
In the northern city of Monterrey, only about twenty came to a central plaza in counter-protest of the marches. The laughable number of counter-protesters did nothing except sing and read poetry.
Gay marriage is still banned under local laws in many of Mexico’s 31 states.
The marches were called by the National Front for the Family, a coalition of civil society organizations and various religious groups, and continued throughout the day from Mexico’s far north to the Yucatan peninsula.
It was one of the biggest crown mobilization in the last couple of years to protest attempts by the liberals and their ilks to supplant the choice of the majority, which is to get rid of the special treatments demanded by LGBTs.
Same-sex marriage is already permitted in Mexico City, as well as in several states including Coahuila, Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Nayarit, Chihuahua and Sonora. However, Peña Nieto has proposed changing the constitution to allow it nationally. He doesn't want the hand, he wants the whole arm.
The embattled leader, who is grappling with discontent over a slowing economy, conflict-of-interest scandals, drug-gang violence and a visit by the US presidential hopeful Donald Trump that led to his finance minister's ouster, has opened himself to criticism by asking lawmakers to debate gay marriage.
"It's pulling on the noose," said Victor Sanchez, a sociologist at Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana. "This comes as the government is showing a certain sort of fragility in other areas ... and they're taking advantage of the moment."
Peña Nieto says congress should debate and settle the issue of gay marriage.
By mid-day, an estimated 40,000 people converged on the city of Querétaro in central Mexico, during a peaceful 3 to 4 kilometre march through the city, one of the largest gatherings in the country, Civil Protection officers said.
"I think it was something unprecedented, the awakening of the society of Querétaro in defence of the family," said Jose Alcantara, an organizer with the National Front for the Family, adding the group had gathered more than 100,000 signatures against the proposal.
Ary Campos Martinez, a spokesperson for Civil Protection in the city of Puebla in central Mexico, said officers had originally expected roughly 5,000 marchers, but were working to monitor a crowd of approximately 12,000 by midday.
In the northern city of Monterrey, only about twenty came to a central plaza in counter-protest of the marches. The laughable number of counter-protesters did nothing except sing and read poetry.
Gay marriage is still banned under local laws in many of Mexico’s 31 states.