Google – AFP, Julie Charpentrat (AFP), 27 January 2013
People take
part in a demonstration for the legalisation of gay marriage
in Paris on
January 27, 2013 (AFP, Thomas Samson)
|
PARIS —
Tens of thousands of gay rights campaigners packed the streets of Paris on
Sunday to call for the legalisation of gay marriage, two days before a key
parliamentary debate on the hugely divisive issue.
Waving
rainbow flags and carrying banners reading "For equality now, against
discrimination always", the demonstrators rallied to promote their cause
exactly two weeks after hundreds of thousands descended on the French capital
to protest against government plans to legalise gay marriage and adoption.
The
proposed legislation, which has come in for strong objection from the
mainstream centre-right opposition, the Catholic church and France's
five-million-strong Muslim community, is due to be debated in parliament on
Tuesday.
Gay rights
advocates Gaston and Andree Pelot, both 68, said they had joined Sunday's march
to support "our ideas, equality and our (gay) son", adding that gay
marriage was "obvious".
Police
estimated that around 125,000 people had turned out for Sunday's rally, while
organisers put the figure at 400,000. The turnout was higher than at previous
marches but still lower than the number of people who protested against
same-sex marriage on January 13.
The gay
rights rally was backed by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who on Saturday
said there was "no doubt" about the outcome of the equality bill.
"A law will be passed and with a large majority too," he said.
The
proposed legislation stems from a promise by President Francois Hollande in his
election manifesto last year.
The
Socialist leader has dismissed opponents' calls for a referendum on the
controversial topic and is already pencilled in to attend one of France's first
gay marriages once the legislation is enacted later this year.
Despite
months of protests, opinion polls have consistently shown that most voters
support the right of homosexual couples to wed.
A recent
Ifop survey found that 63 percent of respondents were in favour of gay unions.
But they were highly divided on whether same-sex couples should have the right
to adopt, with 49 percent saying they were in favour compared to 51 percent
against.
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