Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP - Getty Images file
People hold boards reading: "A father, a mother for all the children", "Yes for the family, no to the homophobia", during a protest organized by fundamentalist Christian group Civitas Institute against same-sex marriage on January 29, 2013.
By Annabel Roberts, Correspondent, NBC News
"Une m?re, un mari, un mariage" (One mother, one husband, one marriage): This is the call to arms for those opposed to the legalization of gay marriage and gay adoption in France.
Under this banner thousands are expected to turn out on Saturday for demonstrations that are being organized in every single one of France's 96 regions.
The umbrella group for the anti-camp is called "manif pour tous" (a pun: manif, or demonstration, for everyone as opposed to marriage for everyone). Spokesman Terdual Derville told NBC News it would be a symbolic day, illustrating that opponents "are present everywhere in France."
The group was behind a huge rally in Paris attended by between 340,000 and 800,000 people on January 13th. Saturday's event, according to Derville, is for those who want to demonstrate but perhaps do not have the means to travel to Paris.
So what exactly are they protesting against?
They insist their movement is not homophobic, that it is the legalizaton of gay adoption that they are against as this amounts to the breakdown of the traditional family.
They say children have a fundamental right to have a father and a mother.
"We must think of future generations. Not only of the desires of adults today," Derville told NBC News.
But those in favor have vocal support too.
"Marriage should be a simple contract between two individuals. Let's make it available to all couples eager to make this contract to each other," Christophe Barbier, editor of the influential L'Express weekly news magazine and a supporter of the law, told NBC News.
The opponents, Barbier believes, are "afraid that after civil contracts (between homosexual couples), and now marriage, the next step will be IVF (for lesbian couples) and surrogate pregnancies (for gay men)."
President's pledge
Other countries in Western Europe -- like Belgium and the Netherlands -- have already legalized gay marriage. But nowhere has the opposition been as vocal as in France -- not even in Spain and Portugal, which are predominantly Catholic like France.
This opposition may seem at odds with France's 'liberal' reputation. But Barbier insisted to NBC News: "France is not liberal, neither economically nor socially. France is conservative -- and occasionally revolutionary."
President Francois Hollande can be confident the legislation will pass thanks to his Socialist Party's majority. Legalizing gay marriage was a manifesto pledge during his 2012 election campaign.
According to Barbier, for political reasons the president has to fulfill this pledge: "Francois Hollande needs to deliver on the promises made during his campaign: In the economic field, this is difficult, with social issues, it's easier."
Luckily for him he also appears to have the backing of the majority of French voters.
A recent poll for Atlantico.fr carried out by Ifop found that 63 percent of people in France support the legalization of same-sex marriage. Forty-nine percent supported gay adoption.
This does not diminish the fervor of those opposed. According to a poll cited by "Manif pour Tous" only 6 percent of people see this issue as a priority.
"The priority is the economy, housing and jobs, so politically the president should have the wisdom to renounce this project," said Derville, the group's spokesman.
A poll by Yougov for Le Huffpost (the Huffington Post's French-language edition) backs this up, finding 72 percent feel the debate has already gone on for too long.
Unfortunately for them, the real debate in France's National Assembly has just started (Tuesday) and is due to run for two whole weeks -- including weekends.
Related:
Tens of thousands march in support of gay marriage in Paris
Protest against gay marriage: Huge crowds expected in Paris
French Muslims join opposition to same-sex marriage
kyra sedgwick honor killings mary tyler moore x games pro bowl 2012 rick santorum daughter gainesville
No comments:
Post a Comment