Protesters gather in Paris to oppose same-sex marriage
BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Washington Blade
More than 350,000 people marched through the streets of Paris last Sunday to protest the French government’s proposal that would extend marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples.
The Roman Catholic Church, Jewish and Muslim groups and right wing political parties endorsed the three separate marches spearheaded by comedian Frigide Barjot that converged near the Eiffel Tower. Same-sex marriage opponents traveled from across the country to attend what Charles Roncier, a gay blogger who is an assistant editor-in-chief for the website VIH.org, told the Washington Blade from the French capital that Sunday’s demonstration that organizers claim drew more than 1 million people was the largest against the proposal that “we’ve seen so far.”
The country’s lawmakers are expected to begin debate on the proposal on Jan. 29. Even though President François Hollande’s Socialist Party controls both chambers of the French Parliament, Roncier said he expects a lengthy debate.
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