- Title: FRANCE: Gay Pride parade in Paris attracts thousands
- Date: 29th June 2013
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 29, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GAY PRIDE PARADE VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS IN COLOURFUL COSTUMES DANCING ROLLS ROYCE WITH RAINBOW COLOURED FLAGS FORMER FRENCH CULTURE MINISTER JACK LANG WITH DEMONSTRATOR (SOUNDBITE) (French) FORMER FRENCH CULTURE MINISTER JACK LANG SAYING: "I'm very happy that today we are numerous and also I am very happy because we h
- Embargoed: 14th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA65AQFDZLZQ7OWQYUVA8T7K1FP
- Story Text: Tens of thousands parade in Paris in first Gay Pride parade since adoption of same-sex marriage law.
Tens of thousands marched in the streets of Paris on Saturday (June 29) in the first "Gay Pride" since France made same-sex marriage legal.
France became the 14th country to allow same-sex marriage in April after parliament approved a new law championed by President Francois Hollande. Since the end of May, same-sex marriages have been celebrated across France.
"I'm very happy that today we are numerous and also I am very happy because we have succeeded to accomplish this engagement for the equality between homo and heterosexuals. So it's a day of victory," said former Culture Minister Jack Lang.
But this new law came at a political price amid violent street protests and a rise in homophobic attacks.
Socialist and conservative lawmakers had come close to blows more than once during lengthy parliamentary debates on the law, which authorizes adoption and marriage but will not allow gay couples to use medically assisted procreation.
This new right is a victory for the French gay community, but some were disappointed the law didn't go further by allowing gay couples to use medically assisted procreation.
Marion Perrin, who lives with another woman and has three children of her own, isn't yet recognised by French law as a second parent. She said she was continuing the fight for equal rights.
"We are satisfied about what we have obtained but there is still a lot to do before all couples are able to have children as easily as heterosexual couples in France."
Marion Perrin said.
French President Hollande's "marriage for all" law is one of the biggest social reforms in France since his left-wing mentor and predecessor Francois Mitterrand abolished the death penalty in 1981, a move which also split opinion.
Unlike Mitterrand's abolition of the death penalty, which most French people opposed at the time, polls showed more than half the country backed Hollande's gay marriage law. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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