The National Front for the Family organization is taking responsibility for an anti-gay marriage march that drew thousands of protesters to the streets of Mexico this past September 10, 2016. The demonstration was aimed at bringing raised attention to President Enrique Pena Nieto's recent proposal to recognize same-sex marriage across all of the historically conservative country.

The National Front for the Family bills itself as a coalition of civil society organizations comprised of several different religious groups.

"It's pulling on the noose," Mexican sociologist Victor Sanchez said of Peña Nieto's same sex proposal. "This comes as the government is showing a certain sort of fragility in other areas ... and they're taking advantage of the moment."

An estimated 40,000 people took to the streets on September 10 in the city of Querétaro, marching up to four kilometers to voice their opposition to Peña Nieto's call.

"I think it was something unprecedented," said Jose Alcantara, an organizer with the National Front for the Family, adding that the group has gathered more than 100,000 signatures.

Protests also took place in other regions of Mexico and at least one media outlet is reporting that at least 1 million people took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with Peña Nieto's proposal.

Back in 2015, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that laws restricting marriage to a man and woman were unconstitutional. Despite the ruling, many state legislatures have refrained from changing statutes complying with the ruling, requiring couples to file legal challenges to same sex marriages on a case-by-case basis.

Related