( CNN ) -- They 're a family of two fathers and one daughter . Until recently , they had lived a quiet life in an upper-class neighborhood in the Mexican city of Monterrey . But they 're now at the center of a national gay rights debate in Mexico . Their 2-year-old daughter , the couple says , was expelled from a private school in Monterrey for having two fathers . Alex and Pepe were married in Mexico City , where same-sex marriage is legally sanctioned . They asked CNN not to make their last names public to protect their daughter 's identity . Alex , a 28-year-old who works in marketing and sales , is the girl 's biological father . Pepe is a 39-year-old broker with a degree from the University of Miami . The couple says an administrator at The Hills Institute , which also has a daycare facility , told them they would have to hide the fact that they 're a same-sex couple if they wanted the girl to stay at their school . `` They were asking me to give up all of my rights as parent at the school , '' Alex told Telediario Monterrey , a local independent TV station . `` I would 've had to not participate in school or social activities . I was to not communicate with anybody nor attend together , as a family , Mother 's Day or Father 's Day celebrations as long as she was attending the school . '' The couple found the conditions unacceptable and the school called the parents to the school a few days later only to give them the news that girl had been officially expelled . `` They saw us through the door 's window and locked the door , '' Pepe told Telediario . `` The receptionist went to the back of the office . After waiting for 10 minutes , they sent an employee escorted by a security guard to tell us that the girl had been officially expelled . CNN 's calls and e-mail to officials at The Hills Institute so far have gone unanswered . On its website , The Hills Institute says their vision is to become `` the best bicultural school in Mexico 's educational system . '' According to Alex and Pepe , the couple attended the school 's open house in mid-August . They say they made it clear to school personnel that they were a legally married couple and had legal custody of the child . No issues were raised by the school , the parents said . The girl was expelled September 13 . Last week , Alex and Pepe made the decision to file complaints with two agencies in Mexico . The couple filed a complaint with the Nuevo Leon state department of public education claiming that regardless of their family 's composition , or whether the school is private or not , it is illegal to deny a child an education in Mexico , based on the Mexican Constitution 's anti-discrimination protections . They also filed a complaint with the Mexican agency that protects consumers saying the school has yet to refund their money . Alex says a check the school sent bounced . In a letter to the Nuevo Leon state secretary of education , a spokesman for the LGBT community in Monterrey denounced the girl 's dismissal from the school . Mario Alberto Rodriguez wrote that he believes the incident `` violates several legal statutes ... in detriment of the rights of the minor . '' Article 1 of the Mexican Constitution states that `` discrimination on the basis of ethnic or national origin , gender , age , disability status , social status , health , religion , political persuasion , sexual orientation , civil status or any other that infringes against human dignity or diminishes rights or liberties of the people is hereby prohibited . '' The Nuevo Leon state constitution mirrors that prohibition . Alex and Pepe say they decided to go public because they feel it 's the only way authorities will do something about their case . `` Our daughter has been discriminated against in the most vicious way , '' Pepe told CNN . As for the little girl , her parents say they 're looking for an alternative school while trying to explain to her why she ca n't see her friends anymore . Journalist Daniela Mendoza contributed to this report .
Ana and Carlos make complaints after their daughter is expelled from a Mexican day school . They say she was kicked out because they tried to hide the fact they are gay . The Mexican Constitution 's non - discrimination clause applies , they say .