Post date: Jan 13, 2013 12:14:22 PM
Several hundred thousand people are set to take to the streets in Paris to protest gay marriage, in the first mass protest against French President Francois Hollande.
PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 13, 2013) (REUTERS) - Several hundred thousand people are expected to march through Paris on Sunday (January 13) against the planned legalisation of same-sex marriage in the first mass protest against the unpopular French President Francois Hollande.
Strongly backed by the Catholic hierarchy, lay activists have mobilised a hybrid coalition of church-going families, political conservatives, Muslims, evangelicals and even homosexuals opposed to gay marriage for the show of force.Demonstrators who began pouring into Paris from around France from early on Saturday, in trains, buses and cars, are expected to march in near freezing temperatures against a divisive reform Hollande has pledged to enact by June.
So many are expected to converge on Paris from around France that police had organisers split it into three separate columns starting from different points around the city, to meet at the Champs de Mars park below the Eiffel Tower.
"I'm against marriage for all. I am for marriage as it is defined: between a man and a woman. There is no reason for two men to be married or for two women to be married. Civil unions (PACS) were introduced about 10 years ago. There's no reason to change things," said demonstrator Benoit Candolle.
An eccentric comedian leading the demonstration known as Frigide Barjot called on French President Francois Hollande to back down on his plans.
"We are gathered here, in our diversity all from multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi philosophical, multi-sexual origins to say one thing only: the French who had until now been silent, have the right to express themselves. They are asking their president to listen to them," she said.
Organisers insist they are not against gays and lesbians, but for traditional marriage.