Tens of thousands of people marched in Mexico City on Saturday to protest President Enrique Peña Nieto's proposed constitutional amendment to establish marriage equality nationwide.
Marriage equality has already spread to 10 states, as well as Mexico City, without becoming an issue in national politics. But when the president proposed amending the constitution so that it would be legal across the country, a coalition of conservative groups mobilized in opposition.
The president's proposal was declared "frozen" by congressional leaders of his own party, though two other left-wing parties are still hoping to get marriage equality legislation on the agenda.
But there are two proposals to outlaw marriage equality also potentially pending in Congress. These were proposed as two separate "citizens initiatives," and groups collected the hundreds of thousands of signatures required to force Congress to consider them.
Saturday's march follows 132 local marches held in cities around the country on Sept. 10, which organizers say had a total of 1.2 million participants.
La marcha pro-familia en Guadalajara, Jal., el 10 de septiembre de 2016.
Organizers said this protest in Guadalajara had 270,000 people, but the city’s civil protection authority reportedly estimated attendance between 45,000 and 50,000.
The Sept. 24 march was sponsored by the National Front for the Family — a coalition of mostly Catholic-led family service organizations and anti-abortion groups — and the evangelical National Christian Union for the Family.
"This shows that society is willing to do what it takes to defend family," said Juan Dabdoub, whose group ConFamilia, is part of the National Front for the Family and launched the first initiative to outlaw marriage equality. "The next step is the elections. If they vote against the initiative, we will vote against them."
Saturday's march suggested those opposed to marriage equality not only command a substantial organizing capacity, but also financial resources. The march had six Jumbotrons along the route broadcasting live footage of the event, and marchers carried thousands of pre-printed flags with the National Front for the Family logo.
A lo largo de la #MarchaPorLaFamilia, organizadores colocaron al menos cinco pantallas gigantes
There was also a drone flying over the march, and the Front for the Family was sharing aerial shots throughout the demonstration.
Hicimos la #CDMX nuestra. ¡Todo por la familia! ¡Gracias por tu inmenso apoyo! #MarchaPorLaFamilia.… https://t.co/XOZgSb67Lk
But the march also had low-fi moments, like this "pro-family" rap.
Peor rap ever. #MarchaPorLaFamilia
"We are inviting the public and supporting your family," the performer said.
And this rendition of the classic, "La Cucaracha."
"La Cucaracha" versión Frente Nacional Por la Familia. #MarchaPorLaFamilia 😦
"To this protest we have come for family for marriage and the right to educate," sang the performers.
The owner of this sign was asked by an organizer to lower it, because "they're saying on social media that this is a religious march."
Mexico's movement has drawn international support, including from Brian Brown, head of the US group National Organization for Marriage, as well as an international federation called the World Congress of Families.
The #marchaporlafamilia begins. Great feeling of love and respect for the family. I'm blessed to be here to witness… https://t.co/7utpCTDHqS
Mario Romo, director of Red Familia — one of the lead groups in the National Family Front — confirmed to BuzzFeed News that foreign activists were in Mexico City this weekend to discuss forming a Latin American “front for the family.” He also said that Ludovine de la Rochere of the French anti-marriage-equality group La Manif Pour Tous was in town this weekend.
The Colombian outlet Semana reported earlier this month that Mexico’s evangelical party, Encuentro Social, had bought a flight to Mexico City for a Colombian lawmaker active in recent protests against Colombia’s education minister, who is a lesbian. (Hernandez did respond to messages from BuzzFeed News.) The report also said activists were coming from Peru and Panama.
Also on Saturday, the National Pride Front organized a small counter protest on the other side of the circle where the National Front for the Family held its rally. Police reportedly said the event drew 500 people.
De este lado #TambiénSomosFamilias 🌈🇲🇽 #MarchaPorLaFamilia DIVERSIDAD EN ARMONÍA
Diego Olavarría contributed to this report.