FRANCE: Two days before the French parliament is set to vote on and approve a same-sex marriage bill, supporters of the reform unfurl rainbow flags and take to the streets of Paris to say 'oui'

Record ID: 277839

  • Title: FRANCE: Two days before the French parliament is set to vote on and approve a same-sex marriage bill, supporters of the reform unfurl rainbow flags and take to the streets of Paris to say 'oui'
  • Date: 21st April 2013
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (APRIL 21, 2013) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED CROSS-DRESSING SPEAKERS AT DEMO DEMONSTRATORS APPLAUDING
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9Q8G7MGYXJKTTIOJ078JT3QHU
  • Story Text: Two days before the final vote on France's gay marriage bill, several thousand supporters of the landmark reform hit the streets of Paris on Sunday (April 21).
    Political parties joined LGBT associations and thousands of protesters -- gay and straight -- in the rally, as a simultaneous demo organised by opponents of the divisive measure took place on the other side of the French capital.
    With a substantial majority for the ruling Socialists in the French parliament, the bill is almost certain to pass when it comes before the National Assembly on Tuesday.
    But LGBT associations have in recent weeks decried a culture of homophobia which they say has led to a rise in attacks on France's gay community.
    Widely publicised incidents at a gay bar in the northern city of Lille as well as an assault on a gay couple in Paris have led President Francois Hollande to weigh into the debate, condemning the recent spate of violence.
    But Sunday's protests remained calm with one topless demonstrator scrawling across his chest "You make war, we make love."
    Politician and campaigner Jean-Luc Romero was one of the figures to speak at the rally and he told Reuters that the sense of inevitability that the reform would pass hampered the efforts of the pro-gay marriage campaign.

    "When you're against something you can get people together quite easily. The people who are in favour say to themselves it'll all work itself out because we all know that in theory, equality comes on Tuesday and the National Assembly is going to vote in favour of this bill," he said.
    LGBT campaign group SOS Homophobie has said that as the debate has become more polarised, so there has been a sharp increase in verbal and physical attacks on the gay community, a statistic which worried many at Sunday's demo.
    Amelie attended the event in the Place de la Bastille with her partner and two children and she said she was concerned by the homophobic rhetoric.

    "We take care, that's all we can do," she said, with baby daughter Charline in her arms.
    Her partner is the biological mother of the two young girls and the state does not currently recognise her as their parent but she hopes to be able to adopt them if the reforms do finally become law on Tuesday.
    The law is the most significant social reform undertaken since France banned the death penalty in 1981 and marks Hollande's biggest social reform since his election last year.
    LGBTQI
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