Pope Francis has voiced his support for an anti-gay protest in Mexico over the weekend which was attended by up to 80,000 people.
Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said the rally against same-sex marriage aimed to “defend our families.”
Despite saying in 2013 that LGBT people should not be “marginalized” and earlier this year suggesting the church should apologize to gay people for how they have been treated by the institution, in April he said there are “no grounds” for comparing same-sex marriages with “traditional marriages.” In August, he spoke out against transgender children, saying “Today in schools, they are teaching this to children — to children! — that everyone can choose their own gender.”
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At his weekly Sunday blessing yesterday, Francis said he willingly joined the Mexico protest “in favor of family and life, which in these times require special pastoral and cultural attention around the world.”
#Mexico: 'March against gay marriage' #MarchaPorLaFamilia: confrontation between Nazi-fascist and LGBT activists. pic.twitter.com/gR1JNpDXps
— Persona (@PersonalEscrito) September 25, 2016
According to Telesur, the protest was “organized by Catholics and the ultra-conservative National Front for the Family, who have been calling people to take to the streets to ‘defend their families and children' against same-sex marriages and adoptions – which are human rights provided by the Mexican constitution.”
LGBT activists and human rights organizations had asked authorities to prevent the protest and punish clergy members leading the demonstration as they are violating the secularity law of Mexico.
La marcha pro-familia en Guadalajara, Jal., el 10 de septiembre de 2016. pic.twitter.com/361i2f9mvk
— José de la Luz (@josedelaluzc) September 11, 2016
On Friday night hundreds of people gathered at the Angel de la Independencia monument in Mexico City which was lit up in pink as part of a demonstration in support of same-sex marriage.
While calling LGBT people “unstable,” Representatives of the National Front for the Family said they respect homosexuality but reject same-sex marriage.
Temistocles Villanueva, MORENA national secretary for sexual diversity, said:
“You cannot claim the freedom of expression right for these kind of protests, especially in a country where members of LGBTQ are already vulnerable to bullying, harassment, intimidation and even death threats.”
Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Mexico City and 9 of the nation's 31 states. There are challenges in the 22 other states underway.
Last week, Father Hugo Valdemar (right), the spokesperson of Mexico's Catholic church accused the country's anti-discrimination watchdog, Conapred, of persecution.
