Anti-gay marriage marchers take to French streets
By The Associated Press?
?By The Associated PressA bride and a groom stand in a car as they protest against French President Francois Hollande's plan to legalize marriage and adoption for gay people, in Paris, Saturday Nov. 17, 2012. Saturday's event, entitled "march for everyone", attracted several thousand people in cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A bride and a groom stand in a car as they protest against French President Francois Hollande's plan to legalize marriage and adoption for gay people, in Paris, Saturday Nov. 17, 2012. Saturday's event, entitled "march for everyone", attracted several thousand people in cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Demonstrators protest against French President Francois Hollande's plan to legalize marriage and adoption for gay people, in Lyon, central France, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Demonstrators protest against French President Francois Hollande's plan to legalize marriage and adoption for gay people, in Paris, Saturday Nov. 17, 2012. Saturday's event, entitled "march for everyone", attracted several thousand people in cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Paris. Placard in the center reads 'No to the government bill for the marriage for everyone". (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A demonstrator protests against French President Francois Hollande's plan to legalize marriage and adoption for gay people, in Paris, Saturday Nov. 17, 2012. Saturday's event, entitled "march for everyone", attracted several thousand people in cities such as Lyon, Marseille and Paris. Placard reads 'No to the government bill for the marriage for everyone". (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
People demonstrate against the government project to legalize same sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Banner reads " Dad, mom, there aren't better for children". (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
PARIS (AP) ? Groups opposed to President Francois Hollande's plans to legalize gay marriage and gay adoptions took to the streets Saturday across France.
Hollande said he would enact his "marriage for everyone" plan within a year of coming to power in May, but vocal opposition from religious leaders, some politicians and parts of rural France has divided the country.
Saturday's protest, called the "March for Everyone," included pro-family and Catholic groups. Several thousand people marched in Paris, carrying signs with slogans such as "One child (equals) one father + one mother."
Their final destination was the Invalides monument, the final resting place of Napeolon Bonaparte, the French leader who invented the country's prized civil code, which is still in force today. It states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, a point the gay marriage bill seeks to overturn. Another reform would be to replace the entries in a child's registry book from "father" and "mother" to "parent 1" and "parent 2."
Elsewhere, France's largest demonstrations ? estimated to be several thousand people strong ? took place in Toulouse and France's second city, Lyon.
The marches Saturday had a dress code of blue, white and pink ? putting a spin on the French tricolore flag's traditional colors of blue, white and red.
A recent survey found that most French favor gay marriage, while support for adoption by gay couples hovers at around 50 percent.
Associated PressNews Topics: General news, Government and politics, Same sex child custody, Same sex marriage, Same sex parenting, Marriage, Child custody, Child welfare, Human welfare, Social issues, Social affairs, Parental rights, Human rights and civil liberties, Family issues, Gay rights, Parenting, Relationships, Lifestyleyoung jeezy world wildlife fund gsa keith olbermann andrew bynum the time machine michelin tires
No comments:
Post a Comment