Hundreds of people braved freezing temperatures as they gathered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday (24 March) to rally against the proposals of the French and UK Governments to redefine marriage.
The rally was organised by French Group, La Manif Pour Tous (March for All), in response to plans to introduce same-sex 'marriage' and allow children to be adopted by homosexual couples in France.
British supporters of traditional marriage were also invited to express their opposition to the UK Government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill which completed the committee stage in the House of Commons earlier this month.
Placards
Demonstrators cried “Vive le mariage” at the foot of Nelson’s Column, with many holding placards reading: “Everyone is born from a man and a woman”.
Other messages read: "For traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Against all persecution of homosexual people" and "French and English together to uphold marriage.”
One attendee, who has lived in London for 25 years, said: “We believe marriage is more than a contract, it is an institution and it needs to be protected.
“We are mindful of homosexuals who want to have children... we do not believe it is in the interests of the child to be parented by homosexuals.”
Another from Harlow in Essex said that she “supports the traditional view of marriage as instituted by God. I am not anti- Gay but I feel under current legislation proposals the Church would have to change and why should it change just because the Government says it should?”
Consequences
Speakers voiced the concerns of many that the proposals would have “consequences for children”, with organisers arguing that the debate has been centred on the “desires of adults” rather than the well-being of children.
Speaker Alan Craig, former leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, said that the British and French were now “united” by a “willingness to stand up against sudden attacks on the vital institution of marriage”.
Canon Chris Sugden of Anglican Mainstream, who is also a member of the General Synod of the Church of England, encouraged protesters to express their concerns whilst the proposals were still being considered by the UK Government.
He added: "Without liberty, the state takes over as parent, the state takes over as governor of your institutions, the state takes over as the regulator of all behaviour. We will all be nationalized …We are protesting today in the name of liberty. We must protest today to preserve the liberties that hundreds of thousands in our two nations have died to save. Join us in protesting today. For if not, in a few months time, you will not be allowed to express the view at all in public that marriage is between a man and a woman."
Criticised
Running up to the event, London co-ordinator Damien Fournier Montgieux, criticised the French and UK Governments for pushing the proposals through with little “warning or consultation”.
He said: "Almost out of nowhere we are suddenly faced with a huge challenge to the future of marriage and the family in both France and the UK. There has been no warning or consultation with the people."
"It is children and the future generations that will suffer most as a result of these unjust changes. I believe that gay people's request is sincere but children's rights and freedoms are too often forgotten in this debate about the 'rights of adults'.
"This is now a pan-European challenge and it needs a pan-European response."
Delighted
Responding to the London rally he said:
"I am delighted that so many people have come to Trafalgar Square today, in spite of the snow and cold, to voice their opposition to these destructive, rushed and ill-thought through proposals. For the sake of children, we are urging the Government to stop and to examine the consequences. We cannot allow our children and the generations after them to become innocent victims of a damaging social experiment. Everyone is born of a man and a woman and we should uphold and support that link, not try to eradicate it.
"Today's crowd demonstrates the unity that there is between the French and British in opposing this undermining of marriage. We need politicians in both countries to start listening and responding to our carefully considered arguments not just ignoring them and pretending to be deaf."
Coincide
The event in London was organised to coincide with a similar rally in Paris where thousands gathered to protest against the French Government’s proposals.
The proposed legislation was approved by the French National Assembly in a 329 to 229 vote and will be debated by the Senate in early April.
The UK Government’s same-sex ‘marriage’ Bill is due for its third reading in the House of Commons before being debated in the House of Lords.
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