Thousands of people on Saturday turned
out to demonstrate against a recent ruling by Mexico's highest court
that effectively allows gay and lesbian couples to marry.
The ruling, handed down last month,
declares state bans unconstitutional but falls short of striking them
down. However, district judges are now obligated to grant
injunctions to gay couples who are denied a marriage license.
(Related: Mexico
Supreme Court strikes gay marriage bans; Chihuahua joins equality
states.)
Demonstrators marched through the
streets of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, chanting slogans such
as “We want children with mom and dad” and “A united family
will not be defeated.”
The march was organized by the
230-member coalition “Jalisco is one for the children” and
endorsed by Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, the Roman Catholic
archbishop of Guadalajara.
“The intention is to celebrate four
things: yes to marriage between man and woman, the right of children
to have mom and dad, the right of parents to educate their children
and yes to life from birth to natural death,” Luis Antonio
Martinez, a member of the organizing committee, told
EFE.
Brenda Del Rio, a volunteer, condemned
the court's decision.
“[O]nly four judges behind closed
doors decided for 120 million people,” Del Rio said, calling the
ruling an “outrage” that should be reversed because it goes
“against what nature provides.”
The march was capped off by a mariachi
concert.