Big anti-gay marriage protests hit Paris as legislation nears passage
Work on the economy instead, anti- gay marriage protesters tell Hollande
Tens of thousands of people opposed to same-sex marriage have marched through Paris in a last-ditched attempt to prevent the bill becoming law, calling on President François Hollande to focus on fixing the flagging economy instead.
Protesters marched from Paris business district, La Défense, to the Arc de Triomphe, attacking Hollande's government of ignoring pressing issues while pushing ahead with his election pledge of "Marriage for All."
The upper house is unlikely to block the reform, but the protesters want the government to withdraw the bill and put it to a referendum.
A
campaign orchestrated by the Catholic Church and belatedly backed by the mainstream centre-right opposition is steadily gathering momentum.
But Hollande's support for the legislation has not wavered and his partner, Valerie Trierweiler, has revealed that the president will be attending the marriages of gay friends once the legislation is on the statute books.
http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20130324-work-economy-instead-anti-gay-marriage-protesters-tell-hollande
I'm glad Hollande is sticking to his campaign promise.