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Despite opposition from the Roman Catholic Church the Mexican government this week launched a radio campaign to fight homophobia.

The ads were prepared by the National Council on AIDS Prevention and Control under a law signed by President Vicente Fox in June 2003 that outlaws several types of discrimination, including bias based on sexuality. The law also requires federal agencies to launch campaigns to promote tolerance.

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Catholic groups, including the National Unity of Parents, tried in vain to stop the campaign, arguing it promotes homosexuality.

"We are not saying homosexuals should be discriminated, disrespected or hurt," said Guillermo Bustamante Manilla, National Unity president. "But homosexuality is not natural. It is aberrant, and we don't believe it should be promoted with our taxes."

The organization created its own radio spots, hoping they could replace those produced by the government. In one, a daughter tells her mother she is attracted to women. The mother thanks her daughter for confiding in her but then says her family will help her so she "won't act out tendencies that could affect her gravely."

The office of Health Secretary Julio Frenk, who spearheaded the anti-discrimination campaign refused to air National Unity's ads.

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