BBC News, 17
November 2012
There were marches in Lyon (pictured), Toulouse and Marseilles, as well as Paris |
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Tens of
thousands of people have protested in France against plans to legalise same-sex
marriage and allow gay couples to adopt.
Police said
at least 70,000 took to the streets in Paris; there were other demonstrations
in the cities of Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille.
They
included Catholic groups and other backers of traditional family rights.
President
Francois Hollande has promised to change French law so that gay and lesbian
couples can marry.
Despite
opposition from more than 1,000 mayors and the Catholic Church, his socialist
government approved a bill on the issue earlier this month which will be
debated by parliament in January.
France
already allows civil unions between same-sex couples, but extending their
rights was a campaign pledge of Mr Hollande before he was elected in May.
Pink
balloons
Protesters
in Paris wore pink T-shirts and scarves and carried pink balloons emblazoned
with images of a man and woman holding two children's hands.
Saturday also saw counter-rallies in support of same-sex marriage |
"That's
the way it is and we can't go against nature."
Saturday
also saw counter-rallies in support of same-sex marriage.
The issue
is one of the most divisive Mr Hollande has faced, correspondents say. The head
of the French Council of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, recently
described gay marriage as "the ultimate deceit".
At present
only married couples - not civil union partners - can adopt in France.
A number of
European nations, including Germany, Sweden and the UK, already allow gay
adoption.
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