Over the weekend, thousands of members of Mexico's "pro-family" hate group Frente Nacional por la Familia took to the streets across the nation to protest the impending passage of marriage equality.

Though these homophobic demonstrators faced their fair share of opposition, perhaps the most powerful moment came at a rally in Celaya, Guanajuato when a 12-year-old boy jumped in front of a crowd of 11,000 protesters.

The iconic image was captured by photo journalist Manuel Rodríguez.

“At first I thought the child was only playing," Rodríguez admitted to Regeneracion.

However, he later discovered that the young boy had a personal reason for blocking the protest.

"I have an uncle who is gay," the child revealed in an interview with Rodríguez. "I hate that they hate him."

Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City and 9 of the country's 31 states. In spite of pressure felt from the Frente Nacional por la Familia, Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto has promised to incorporate marriage equality into the nation's constitution.

h/t: Towleroad