Madness! Mexican Gay Wedding Blocked by Christian Agitators Challenging Grooms' Sanity

Finally, on November 21st 2014, they were all set to wed. The couple knew they had done everything necessary for this to become a legal reality. They'd retained their lawyer to ensure that every 'i' was dotted and 't' was crossed.

A huge party was planned, bought and waiting to celebrate their nuptials.

Like any prospective newly weds, on the dawn of their big day, there were nerves. Not helped by the fact that they were about to make history in their city, hence the press would be waiting to cover it all. 

The grooms arrived nervously jubilant and resplendent in brand new, matching white suits. Then picked their way through a small crowd of Catholic protestors lining Mexicali Town Hall steps. Prayers calling upon God to thwart their marriage assailed their ears, but hand in hand the couple made it safely inside.

The room was packed. Paparazzi camera flashes blinded their way. Family and friends filled the seating, all smiles and glee at the hard fought ceremony about to be performed. A judge sat awaiting their approach down the aisle, willing and able to pronounce them groom and groom.

While increasingly outraged wedding attendees watched on, the couple's lawyer produced document after document proving this was a legal fact, but registrar Rosa Real was implacable on the subject.

A move was made to contact officials at the Supreme Court to order her compliance, or else report her for criminal obstruction.

At this point, she announced that a bomb threat had been made. The whole building was to be evacuated. All ceremonies cancelled for the day.  Victor and Fernando held their reception party anyway. It would be a shame to see all that food go to waste.

That was round one. Round two began with equal distress and cross words exchanged, between a couple desperate to marry and a Catholic counselor refusing to even acknowledge their attendance at her session.

Mexicali City ordinance had swiftly been tightened to refuse marriage for any who had not attended mandatory counseling. The mass sessions were hosted by a hard-line Catholic couple, who issued dockets to prove that individuals had been to one of their mass workshops.

Victor and Fernando duly turned up. A friend captured on film what happened next.

For those of us unable to understand the Spanish exchanges, the synopsis is this:

Angelica Guadalupe Gonzalez Sanchez is the lady refusing entry to the pre-wedding counseling group, which she runs with her husband. (He was seen earlier on, explaining that the session is for heterosexual couples only.)  Fernando remonstrated with her, as did the couple's legal adviser. But she denied them any opportunity to receive their attendance ticket.

They needed that in order to marry.

Senora Sanchez is also the president of the Coalition of Baja California Families - the Christian group spearheading the fight against same-sex marriage - who had orchestrated the praying on the steps on the couple's first wedding day.

Did Victor and Fernando seem unduly 'aggressive and impertinent' during this confrontation? Sra Sanchez said they were. She's filed a complaint within her professional capacity as mandatory pre-marital counselor stating that they are insane.

She based it all on the incident depicted in the footage above.

On January 10th 2015, Victor and Fernando turned up for their second wedding day.  A municipal official - Jose Felix Arango Perez - met them at the aisle to deliver the bad news. They could not tie the knot, until the legal challenge to their sanity had been met.

Mad people may not marry in Mexicali City.

The ongoing, and increasing bizarre, barriers to allowing Victor and Fernando's marriage to ensue has brought the issue to the attention of international readers.

I'm writing this from Britain for a start.

Social networks have erupted to the hashtag cry of #MisDerechosNoSonLocura - my rights are not crazy - in support of the couple. Suddenly the whole world is watching, as they stage yet another fight against the system, in order to secure what should be their right.

It's not envisaged that the delay will last for long this time. Their paperwork is still in order and there's plenty of evidence to prove that they attempted to attend the mandatory counseling session prior to their second wedding day.  It wasn't a factor in their first.

Moreover, their business continues to function without anyone querying their mental health. It will only take a single psychologist to rule them fit and healthy to wed.

All looking on wonder what strange obstacle will be thrown into their bid for the aisle next. Because their Christian opponents are refusing to give up and their tactics are spawning a backlash of international proportions.

Civil rights should never be deemed crazy. They are rights. And the couple fight on for their wedding day.