Mérida, Yucatán — In response to the Sept. 10 march protesting same-sex marriage, counter-demonstrators will reply with a non-verbal message of their own.
They will stage a besatón. That is, a kiss-in.
The National Front for Family and Red Pro Yucatán is planning demonstrations in more than 60 cities, including Mérida. A bill allowing marriage equality and liberalized adoption laws across Mexico has conservatives up in arms.
One organizer of the conservative group, Gerardo Pineda Martínez, said the march will begin at 5:30 p.m., heading from the Remate de Montejo to the Monumento a la Patria.
They expect 10,000 people who share the idea “that the family should be formed by a man and woman who bear children.”
“The man is father and the woman is mother; both roles are irreplaceable and essentially different,” states Unión por la Familia, another supporter of the anti gay-rights march.
The counter-protest is being organized by various pro-gay organizations and individuals.
The besatón will begin at 5 at the Monumento a la Patria.
The conservative marchers are being instructed to wear white and carry blue and pink balloons.
Counter-protestors are urged to carry rainbow flags and wear bright clothing to show their support for LGBTQ rights and “celebrate our identity.”
“Invite your friends and family to participate and join this demonstration, we show that it is not necessary to be homosexual, bisexual or transsexual to support equality,” an organizer wrote in Spanish.
On social media, colorful graphics with comic-book themes follow the hashtag #BesatonMID.
A Facebook event page for the counter-protest listed 170 attendees as of Sunday morning.
