Mexicali Mayor Jaime Diaz Ochoa insists
his administration did not block Baja California's first gay wedding
out of animus.
Victor Aguirre Espinoza, 43, and
Fernando Urias Amparo, 37, thought that they were cleared to marry on
Saturday after more than 21 months of legal wrangling and two failed
attempts. Together more than 10 years, the men challenged the
Mexican state's restrictive marriage ban. But despite a ruling in
their favor from Mexico's Supreme Court, officials in Baja
California's state capital continue to resist.
Arriving Saturday at Mexicali City
Hall, the couple was greeted by protesters wearing blue face masks.
The building was locked down and a top
city official told the men that the wedding had been canceled due to
a complaint that the men “suffer from madness,” The
San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Their accuser was Guadalupe Gonzalez
Sanchez, who along with her husband conducts mandatory pre-marital
talks for the city. Sanchez is also the president of the
conservative Coalition of Baja California Families.
Gonzalez filed a complaint accusing the
men of being “aggressive and impertinent” on Thursday after she
refused to certify their attendance. She also claimed that the men
attempted
to fool her by attending the talk accompanied by a woman.
Diaz insisted he
was not homophobic, telling reporters that the wedding did not
happen because there are “legal differences” to be resolved.
The men have vowed to keep trying.