Ahumada 1

Faizah Ahumada

Professor Hailey Haffey

ENGL 2850-002

20 April, 2017

Anti-Gay Marriage Protesters

In May of last year, the president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto announced a

constitutional reform that would legalize same-sex marriage across the country; something that

alarmed the people of Mexico, since it is a predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The

announcement followed a Supreme Court ruling, declaring that a ban on same-sex marriage is

unconstitutional. With 68 votes to 11, on January 10th, 2017, the Mexican parliament finally

approved the right for civil unions between couples in the LGBT community. Lol Kin Castaneda,

a member of the parliament, began her speech with the affirmation, those who have always

lived with liberty and simple rights can find it difficult to understand inequality" (Castaneda).

We are not creating a right. Instead, its the liberty everybody has to unite in matrimony to

another person, regardless of their sexual preference. Thanks to this, lesbians, gays, bisexuals,

transexuals, transgendered, transvestites and inter-sexual can officially enjoy the extension of

this right with total liberty in Mexico City.

Prior to the official statement legalizing same-sex marriage, tens of thousands of people

marched the streets of Mexico in September of 2016, protesting against President Enrique Pena

Nietos, proposal. This picture of a protesters poster says, My family.. like that of Nazareth.

with many other posters saying things along the lines of, "Long live the family, in the image of

the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and Saint Joseph," which helps the claim that they were not

against same-sex marriage, but instead, they were for keeping the original family and its values
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(Mexico). This is a smart strategy to carry throughout these hateful protests, because by not fully

bashing on the LGBTQ community, they can persuade more people into this belief, thinking they

are truly spreading Gods word among the country. Organizers of the National Front for the

Family estimated close to one million people participated, and while that number could not be

immediately confirmed, it was clearly one of the largest protest marches in Mexico in recent

years (Press).

We are not against

anybodys (sexual) identity,

said Abraham Ledesma, an

evangelical pastor who traveled

from the border city of Reynosa,

across the border from McAllen,

Texas, to participate in Saturdays march. What we are against is the government imposition of

trying to impose gender ideology in education. As religious leaders, we dont want to be forced

to marry same-sex couples and call it marriage (Press). Both, Churches, and pastors have

significant protection under the First Amendment and other provisions of law from being forced

to perform same-sex marriages, therefore, no one can be forced to marry same-sex couples.

The National Front for the Family is strongly against same-sex couples adopting

children, and also opposes teaching about homosexuality and transsexuality in school sex

education classes. Some people were excited for this innovative measure the President of

Mexico had proposed, but instead, the backlash has been more overpowering than anything

else. Homophobic hate groups have arised, and the country is divided. A gay rights advocacy

group said that homophobia has rapidly surged in Mexico since Pena Nieto's proposal. The
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Citizen Commission against Homophobic Hate Crimes said at least 26 people from the LGBT

community were killed so far this year, as well as 44 anti-gay murders in 2015, down from 72

in 2014 (Gay Marriage).

More than eighty percent of the population of Mexico is Roman Catholic, and church

leaders in Mexico are firmly opposed to same-sex marriage. There are many things the Church

considers sinning, but people are notorious of picking and choosing which sins are okay and

which ones are not. If you do not want your children to be exposed to this immoral act, are you

going to also stop them from seeing movies, shows, or video games that contain lying, drinking,

committing murder, doing drugs, stealing, swearing?

But the fact that the country is Catholic doesnt mean that its going to be less likely to

embrace marriage equality, Feder says. A number of Catholic countries have been at the

forefront of marriage equality. The issue is about the different political cultures and the power of

the church in this country. Mexico has a long history of preventing the Catholic Church from

getting directly involved in politics, including for a long time, prohibiting priests from voting

(Gay Marriage). However, the church still has a strong impact and influence on the Mexican

people, and by endorsing these marches, it helps stop the marriage amendment. Trying to

separate Church and State is nearly impossible when you live in a democracy, since people will

vote depending on their morals and beliefs.

Proponents of legal gay marriage contend that same-sex marriage bans are discriminatory

and unconstitutional, and that same-sex couples should have access to all the benefits enjoyed by

different-sex couples. Opponents contend that marriage has traditionally been defined as being

between one man and one woman, and that marriage is primarily for procreation (Born). This is

one of the biggest arguments the opposing side has, and since in the Roman Catholic church, lust
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is one of the seven deadly sins, gay marriage is looked at as an abomination. But what happens to

heterosexual couples who are unable to procreate? What happens to the couples where the wife

might have undergone ovarian cancer and has lost the ability to be a mother; or the men who

simply arent fertile enough - are they considered sinners, too? Does this make their marriage

illegal or immoral, as well?

Another reason for which people are against gay marriage, is that they believe exposing

children to gay couples will endorse this behavior and force more and more people to identify as

queer. But if that was the case, why hasnt straight representation made gay people straight? Or if

it has, what was so influential that it could change their entire sexuality? Its easy to see the

reasons why someone who is gay would keep their identity closeted and follow what society tells

us is a normal family. Especially years ago, when the LGBTQ+ community hadnt made as

much progress as it has now. But why would a heterosexual person choose to turn gay and carry

a way more difficult path in their life just because they see others doing it? It simply does not

make sense to have a perfectly cemented street but choose to take the rocky, rainy, dark, scary

road if there is no need to. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community wish they could be

heterosexual/cisgender, and not have to deal with all the hate and discrimination they go through

everyday; but this lifestyle is not something they choose to follow, or something they chose to do

because people around them were doing it. This is who they are.

The other big concern was that gay couples cant have children of their own, and that will

stop the human population from growing. But dont gay couples adopt the children that

heterosexual people gave away? Protesters said an adopted child deserves to have a mother and a

father, well isnt having two parents of the same sex better than not having parents at all? If the
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Roman Church truly has the interest on the well being of the Mexican people, then it should

extend to all love and different backgrounds.

Mexico is still very old fashioned in the way they see how a proper family should

function. The people are very religious, and therefore, they follow Church teachings very closely.

Generally, smaller towns home very close-minded people; unlike the bigger cities, where citizens

tend to be more liberal. Women are still thought to be weaker than men, and men are all

supposed to be strong male figures that can protect and provide for their families. No one wants

their son to be gay since homosexuality among men is perceived as feminine, and femininity is

seen as a sign of weakness. This macho persona is forced upon men, and anyone who does not

fit this role, is severely excluded, judged, and criticized. Lesbians on the other hand, are

overlooked - pretty similar to how things were in the past centuries. Its sad to see Mexico hasnt

prospered, and people still have to hide their true identity to be able to roam the streets

comfortably. For Mexico to truly have a place in the modern world, these outdated beliefs need

to be reevaluated.

Nurture vs Nature has become a huge topic of discussion when it comes to sexuality.

Whether sexual orientation is a trait we are born with - or if its caused by the environment we

are raised in, has been debated by scientists, religious leaders, elected officials, and the general

public. Proponents argue that sexual orientation is determined by natural, immutable biological

factors such as genes or hormones, and therefore gay people should be entitled to the same legal

rights and protections as other human beings. Opponents argue that homosexuality is a reversible

and unfortunate lifestyle choice resulting from poor child-parent relationships, sexual abuse,

brainwashing by pro-gay influences, or other developmental causes (Born). Some contend that

gay people should be denied marriage, discrimination protection, and social and religious
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acceptance. Whatever the cause for sexuality is, gay people should not be treated like second

class citizens, at the end of the day, they are still human.

All in all, gay-marriage supporters arent going to be able to change everybodys mind

and make everyone agree with them on this topic, especially not with hatred and violence.

However, its important to separate state from Church, and remember basic human rights such as

being able to love whoever your heart desires. At the end of the day it's about promoting equality

and tolerance regardless of ones origin, religion, gender or sexual preference. There are plenty

of other much worse things that could happen to your children other than turning out to be gay.
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Work Cited

"Born Gay ProCon.org." Is sexual orientation determined at birth? N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar.

2017.

Castaneda, Janila. "Mexico Finally Recognises Same Sex Marriage." Konbini Nigeria. N.p., 13

Jan. 2017. Web. 28 April 2017.

"Gay marriage is legal in Mexico, but Mexicans are still fighting over whether it should be

allowed." Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2017.

"Mexico: Thousands protest against same-sex marriage proposal." BBC News. BBC, 25 Sept.

2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017

Press, Mark Stevenson Associated. "Tens of thousands march against same-sex marriage in

Mexico." USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 25 Sept. 2016. Web. 27

Feb. 2017.