FRANCE: Around 600 demonstrators gather in Paris to show support of the French government's draft law allowing same-sex marriage and call for rights for children

Record ID: 276833

  • Title: FRANCE: Around 600 demonstrators gather in Paris to show support of the French government's draft law allowing same-sex marriage and call for rights for children
  • Date: 7th November 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING SIGNS DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS AND SIGNS ORGANISER OF DEMONSTRATION AND PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANISATION 'LES ENFANTS D'ARC EN CIEL' ('CHILDREN OF THE RAINBOW') NATHALIE MESTRE TALKING TO DEMONSTRATORS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ORGANISER OF DEMONSTRATION AND PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANISATION 'LES ENFANTS D'ARC EN CIEL' ('CHILDREN OF THE RAINBOW'), N
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3E4ZUEKFGQSWHHGP0QBBW9LTH
  • Story Text: Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Paris on Wednesday (November 7) to show their support for same-sex rights in France, hours after the approval of a bill legalising same-sex marriage by France's Socialist cabinet.
    Many demonstrators insisted that although the cabinet's approval of the draft law, which would both legalise same-sex marriage and open up adoption to gay couples, was a step in the right direction, it did not go far enough to ensure equality.
    President of the organisation 'Les Enfants d'Arc en Ciel' ('Children of the Rainbow') and organiser of the demonstration Nathalie Mestre said the French state needs to pass laws recognising children of same-sex couples and protecting them.

    "In one sense, it's a strong and symbolic law, but at the same time it's not sufficient for properly protecting children and amendments are necessary, notably concerning lineage, because if not, then our children will not be protected from birth," Mestre said.
    Mestre said the organisation's display of empty pushchairs and baby clothes in Paris' Edouard Herriot Plaza symbolised inequality in the eyes of the law regarding children of same-sex couples.

    "The meaning of the clothing on the ground is to signify that these children don't have the same rights as all the others because they are missing a parent in the eyes of the law. In real life, they have two parents, but in the eyes of the law they only have one. So in fact, one of the two parents doesn't even have the duty -- we always talk about rights and duties -- but parents also have duties with their children. And here, one of the parents doesn't even have the duty to properly protect her children," Mestre said.
    Police estimated around 600 people met near the French capital's National Assembly, many holding signs and banners urging for equality for all French citizens.
    Demonstrator Benoit Jeanneau said the French Republic was based on the principle of equality, and that the government should therefore defend equality for all citizens.

    "For me it's really a question of principles, it's that we don't want to consider any people -- lesbians, gays -- as 'sub-citizens', with things like PACS which aren't truly equality. I'm here because I honestly believe in the country 'Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood' and so I'm here to support the value of equality," Jeanneau said.
    The same-sex marriage bill, which was formally approved by France's cabinet Wednesday morning, will now go to parliament for review and is likely to be approved in the first months of 2013.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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