Marriage supporters continued their fight against the French government’s same sex ‘marriage’ Bill, as thousands united for a rally in Paris.
It is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people attended the rally on Sunday to express their opposition to the Bill, which will also permit same-sex couples to adopt children.
Children
Demonstrators gathered under a banner reading "All born of a Mum and a Dad," expressing concerns about the effects of the proposals on children and society. Many shouted “[President Francois] Hollande, we don't want your law."
One demonstrator described the proposals as a “threat to the social fabric", saying that "a fundamental rule of society will disappear" should the legislation be approved.
Another said: "We are here for the rights of the children... We take it as a slur when we are called homophobes or fascists."
Last month, a similar demonstration in Paris attracted around 1.4 million people, whilst hundreds attended a coinciding Anglo-French rally in support of traditional marriage in Trafalgar Square.
In November, at least 70,000 people gathered in Paris for a mass pro-marriage march, whilst another 30,000 held similar rallies around the country.
Warning
Alberic Dumont, one of the organisers of Sunday's march told Reuters: "We warned the president back in November that we would not give up and that we would do everything to stop this law being passed, or to get it repealed if it is adopted.”
The Bill – pushed by President François Hollande's Socialists – was approved by the Senate earlier this month.
The French National Assembly is expected to take a decisive vote on the issue this week.
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