Hundreds of gay rights campaigners gathered for a mass rally in Paris on Sunday to support President Francois Hollande’s plans to legalise gay marriages and adoptions by June, local media reported.
The rally comes two days before the parliament is due to discuss the Socialist government’s controversial marriage equality bill.
Organisers said over 250,000 people took to the streets in central Paris, carrying banners included ‘Homosexuality is not a choice: Equality is’, ‘Equality of rights is not a threat.’
At least 300,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris on January 13 to protest the move. The demonstrators, supported by the Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition, said the authorities’ plans would undermine one of society’s essential building blocks.
France allows civil unions between same-sex couples, but during his presidential campaign, Hollande pledged to extend their rights. Although his socialist government faced opposition from over 1,000 mayors and the Catholic Church, it still approved a relevant bill in November 2012.
A recent opinion poll showed some 63% of French citisens support the legalisation of same-sex marriage in France. However, they were divided on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, with 49% saying they were in favour and 51% against.
