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Claude Paris / AP
Opponents to government plans to legalize same-sex marriage, adoption and medically-assisted procreation for same-sex couples, shout slogans during a demonstration, in Marseille, southern France, on Feb. 2. Placard reads "Mom and Dad, it's natural."
"Une mère, 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 turned out on Saturday for demonstrations organized in every one of France's 96 regions.
The French parliament adopted Saturday the main clause of a bill that would allow same-sex marriage and grant gay couples the right to adopt children.
Deputies voted 249-97 to back the clause.
About 1,000 people holding signs that read, "We are all born of a man and a woman" gathered in Paris not far from the parliament building, Reuters reported. Protesters also assembled outside the town hall in Lyon.
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 Tugdual Derville said 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 Jan. 13. 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 legalization 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 -- such as 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 was confident the legislation would 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 had 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 just started on Tuesday and is due to run for two whole weeks -- including weekends.
Related:
Tens of thousands march in support of gay marriage in Paris
Leave a Comment:
Way to go France! More power to you. At least your country is trying to get this one right.
Traditional/Biblical: "I now pronounce you man and wife."
Homosexual: "I now pronounce you man and man." or "I now pronounce you wife and wife."
"No. I and my partner are both men, but I'm the man and he is the wife."
"Oh." (I guess the person doing the wedding could ask who controls the checkbook. That would simplify things, as to who is what......) It gets crazier, folks. Don't go away. Don't change the channels.
Will a businessperson who doesn't approve of the homosexual preference be required to hire homosexuals? Who has the right, the businessperson or the homosexual? Will a Christian church be required to hire homosexuals?
When should a preference become a right? If a person prefers to be a bigamist, and there are two or three of the other sex who prefer to be married to the bigamist, should that become a right? Why not? Between consenting adults.....that doesn't say anything about the numbers of consenting adults.
This barrel has just been opened. We haven't even begun seeing what's in the bottom of the barrel yet.......but, trust the ACLU......we will.
silly post. there is no need to identify the "husband" or the "wife".
As far as your questions about hiring gays, that has nothing to do with gay marriage. Those questions have been around since there were gays (i.e., forever).
And as far as polygamy, that has nothing to do with gay marriage. The question of legality of polygamy has been an issue since the 1800s, well before gay marriage became an issue.
the "barrel" of equal rights has been "opened" since forever. Try to pay attention. And yes, I do trust the ACLU..who fights for the rights of all americans...Christians, gays, atheists, women..everyone.
@hike: what a dumb comment.
Put down your book of fairy tales and pick up a textbook.
Mike ... a text book written by your left-wing propaganda spreading friends?
"When should a preference become a right?"
When someone says their preference is a "religion." No one is born that way. That IS a lifestyle some of us chose not to follow, or be a part of.
Cuts both ways. Take a hike.
Who said France was liberal? Because they are open with sex and are nude on their beaches? LOL Quite the opposite is true. They have banned religious expression--of course only if you are not Catholic like they are--so that includes Jews and Muslims only.
So why are we shocked that a mostly Catholic nation who does not believe in freedom of religion is against gay marriage? Well, DUH.
France is very liberal, dickwad!!!
Have you even ben to france because I actually been here many times and is her now and your comment makes no sense to me
It's just more religious poison.
Hey Mike, its been awhile buddy. Hope life is going good for you.
Maybe I need to go back and read the article again.
I did not see anything that said the French people who oppose gay marriage are religious.
I think it said that they were just French people who oppose gay marriage.
There are many people of different nationalities, religions, and atheists who oppose gay marriage and support traditional marriage.
@ silverton:
No there aren't.
The only argument against gays is a religious one.
I won't use the word gay because the word was meant to describe something fun and nice, homosexuality on the other hand is not. For those that choose to participate in homosexuality there is no need to bring up the subject of christians or the bible because they do not believe in either. I hope for the sake of thier souls they do one day believe in christanity and the bible and turn away from thier sin to have everlasting life. To promote homo marriage will be morally, biblically, and finacially devastating. If they choose to life that life style I say give them the state of california and let them live thier perverted life style, just can't come out to spread thier perversion. How long will they exist without hetrosexuals?
lol, fine, YOU can pout and refuse to use the word "gay". :)
and gays can't be christians because they violate one of the sins? I guess since we are all sinners, no one is a christian, according to your "logic". lol.
and please explain how ALLOWING (where is this "PROMOTING" you reference?) gay marriage will be "morally and financially devastating"? how so? By all means dazzle us with your brilliance on the topic. :)
Why not just call it Pairage? Give pairage the same rights as married folks and lets move on to something else.DAMN!
why not call it "marriage" and let people who don't like gays having the same secular, legal rights refer to their unions as "holy matrimony"? no one gets to "own" legal terms. And the whole "separate but equal" thing doesn't work out, one is always a bit less equal than the other.
I agree we should just move on..after giving all law abiding citizens equal rights.
I believe sodomy is still illegal in some states,yes or no? If they get the EXACT SAME RIGHTS under a different name,then they are arguing for the sake of arguing.The are NOT having their civil rights violated.
there are still states with anti-sodomy laws "on the books", that is true. But they can't be enforced, due to the SCOTUS decision of Lawrence vs texas. That federal ruling overturned all state laws, even if state legislatures refuse to recognize that.
what that has to do with the right to marriage is unclear.
You really need to make up your mind on your argument.You have been posting about Gays equal rights. If they call it Pairage and give them the same rights as married people then you are arguing about names,not rights.
Sounds like you're the sort of bigot who would think that racially segregated drinking fountains are OK.
Skrekk, if I disagree with you I'm not a bigot. Only homosexuals call everyone who is "normal" bigots because thy are afraid and because deep inside they wish they were "normal." Male child molesters (of which we have far too many) are by definition homosexual; those males who lolest little girls are pedophiles. There is no such thing as homophobia - the natural reation to a homosexual is the same feeling you get when you accidently step in something the dog left behind. Go to Africa, China, Russia, and Moslem country and see how they embrace the homosexual lifestyle. Western society is in decline, the family is disintegrating and this allows us to feel sorry for homosexuals and grant them "rights" to greater access to childrem (see NAMBLA), ect all in the cause of liberalism. But go to any country where family is important and see how far the homosexuals get. Remember the Catholic Church scandal, where homosexual priests fulfilled their dreams. Bet you're dreaming now.
WRONG. Approximately 90% of all pedophiles/child molesters are heterosexual, married men (probably a lot like you, atelier); they are attracted to the age, not the gender, and will prey on whichever gender is more readily available to them. YOU are not the one who defines pedophiles and child molesters; let scientific professionals do that -- they've done a lot more research than you'll ever do, and they have no bias, as you do.
Really? Then why is it defined in the dictionary, and recognized by the medical community? And who are YOU to speak for how everyone else feels about homosexuals and homosexuality?
Since the majority of Americans also support equality, it would seem that you're full of @!$%# (no surprise).
NAMBLA is an organization of pedophiles; it is not associated with any of the mainstream homosexual and lesbian groups, who disassociated themselves from NAMBLA about 30 years ago. (BTW, the abbreviation for "et cetera" is "etc.," not "ect.").
What makes you a bigot, atelier, is not just your ideas about homosexuals, but that you believe they should be denied rights, although they are taxpaying, law-abiding citizens just like the rest of us.
One more thing: just because someone supports equality and calls you a homophobe does not make that someone gay -- and since the majority of Americans support equality, yet only 5-10% of the population is gay, it would seem that there are quite a lot of us heteros who support same-sex marriage.
really, france....really? one of the gayest places on earth and you bought in to the whole homophobic shtick?
really???
whats next?
norway will become christian?
america will like black people?
canada will get angry?
Nice ramble with no substance !
That is very interesting lol
Anyone that is not a purvert or wants to live a immoral/debauchery life would be against this. It is totally un-natural and against all forms of decent human living. Glad some are still trying to uphold christian life, free from the way the world is headed to immoral living.
I think it is immoral to deny law abiding citizens equal rights. Patriotic americans would support more freedom, not less. Why do you hate american values? :)
Bill????
Bill, homosexuality is observed in most other species of animals...and being, we are just another animal...how is it unnatural?
What say you?
Bill, homosexuality is observed in most other species of animals...and being, we are just another animal...how is it unnatural?
Murder is also a practice of other animals, so is abuse and domination. Bullying can be found in many other species, when bringing in another female, killing her young or chasing them off is the norm, elderly are left tp die. Some animals eat their own. We are animals, should we adopt this behavior?
cit
Well done! We are just animals argument is strange at best.
Well I guess there are some reasonable people still in France!
Side of french fries please :)
yep, a majority are reasonable, they support equal rights, and are against bigotry and discrimination.
Fortunately the bigots are dying off, and soon this won't even be an issue, except for the last holdouts who persist for generations.
Oh here comes bigotcallerguy.
I knew you would be frothing about now LOL.
frothing? lol, hardly. You might want to increase your reading comprehension. :) I mean..seriously..the anti-gay people are a source of free entertainment. Like you. :)
and there are plenty of bigots around. If you haven't noticed them, you might want to increase your intelligence. :)
Not all liberals support gay marriage.
lol, "libturds"? obamarrr, are you 12 years old?
It there choice as to what they want to be, gay, Lisbon,But they SHOULD NOT be allowed to adopt children.. The child should have a choice since everyone else has one. the child should choose if they want two moms, or two dads... Or one Mom and ONE Dad... Kid can be easy persuade. then later in teen years they have friend that are straight, and they come and meet the gay adoptive parents, and he/she introduce them and this is my mom and this is my mom??? or this is my dad and this is my dad, we are a gay family. A kid raised by gay will be taught to be GAY.. this should not happen..
Really?..when did you decide to be straight?
Where are the studies that prove children of gay people will be taught to be gay? Link please.
Because gay is the default sexual position of the mind. Since you are the same sex as yourself, your infantile auto-eroticism is directed towards a same-sex object (you); therefore, if not taught to be straight, you will be gay.
Unfortunately for the phobo-tards, such a simple equation does not pan out in the real world, as no infant can survive without sucking on external objects (mother's breasts) since his earliest days, thereby developing the most powerful and ineradicable attachments to them.
A gay person is attracted to a gays ass the same as a heterosexual. Who cares just have sex. Hell have it twice a day,. Chill out then love one another and help the people around you and go to heaven!
Doug, do you really want to be a Scout Master so you can be with young boys. Male child molesters (of which we have far too many) are by definition homosexual; those males who lolest little girls are pedophiles. There is no such thing as homophobia - the natural reation to a homosexual is the same feeling you get when you accidently step in something the dog left behind. Go to Africa, China, Russia, and Moslem country and see how they embrace the homosexual lifestyle. Western society is in decline, the family is disintegrating and this allows us to feel sorry for homosexuals and grant them "rights" to greater access to childrem (see NAMBLA), ect all in the cause of liberalism. But go to any country where family is important and see how far the homosexuals get. Remember the Catholic Church scandal, where homosexual priests fulfilled their dreams. Bet you're dreaming now.
WRONG. Approximately 90% of all pedophiles/child molesters are heterosexual, married men (probably a lot like you, atelier); they are attracted to the age, not the gender, and will prey on whichever gender is more readily available to them. YOU are not the one who defines pedophiles and child molesters; let scientific professionals do that -- they've done a lot more research than you'll ever do, and they have no bias, as you do.
Really? Then why is it defined in the dictionary, and recognized by the medical community? And who are YOU to speak for how everyone else feels about homosexuals and homosexuality?
Since the majority of Americans also support equality, it would seem that you're full of @!$%# (no surprise).
NAMBLA is an organization of pedophiles; it is not associated with any of the mainstream homosexual and lesbian groups, who disassociated themselves from NAMBLA about 30 years ago. (BTW, the abbreviation for "et cetera" is "etc.," not "ect.").
this only proves, conservative christians are hateful people, no matter what in country they live!! they are just judgmental and hateful people.
Using "bold" to highlight your stupidity makes no sense.
I guess there is a Fox news in France.
Buster, great thought, but No they do not have Fox News. They do not have MSNBC either, they do have CNN International.
https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_France
Maybe I need to go back and read the article again.
I did not see anything that said the French people who oppose gay marriage are Christians.
I think it said that they were just French people who oppose gay marriage.
There are many people of different nationalities, religions, and atheists who oppose gay marriage. It is not just a Christian thing.
It's just Opus Dei Catholics, Muslim extremists, neo-Nazis, and Le Pen's Front National party. In other words the same right wing nutjobs who lost the last election.
Most of the French public - including most Catholics - support marriage equality.
Run in fear Skrekk. One day you'll travel to Nigeria, or Russia, or China, or the Middle East.
What makes you think skrekk is gay, atelier? YOU are more likely to be gay than he is.
Homosexuality is a choice & in your heart you know it is wrong & a sin & if not repented of the outcome is eternal separation from God & eternal damnation. God will forgive you if you repent.
sexual orientation is NOT a choice. No one chooses whether to be attracted to the same or opposite sex (or both in the case of bisexuals). That applies to both gays and straights.
I think we can safely ignore your comment about knowing what gays feel in their hearts. lol.
Your whole post is self serving..after all, if it isn't a choice, that means god made them that way, and that kinda disrupts your whole view of life, doesnt it? :)
Sex is sex. The gays like their anal sex oral sex as the heterosexual the same. Sex is sex. You get off and enjoy your self. Oral sex a treat. The thing is people are born as they are. Who the hell cares about the sex. It just is. It's how the people treat each other that counts. People who care for the poor , children , educate their fellow man are all going to Heaven. Stop with condemning the natural state of men. Think men should have sex with the men at least once so they get it as women should with each other. it's just sex. How about loving one another and helping each other out in a crule world
So, super x, you like sucking dick? That's what I got out of your post.
Back in 1994, I knew a young woman whose brother was gay and died of AIDS. She said that her brother told her before he died to tell everyone that homosexuality is a choice.
so, an anonymous poster says that some woman said that her brother said it was a choice? ummm...right, that is worthless ya know?
"the scientific consensus is that sexual orientation is not a choice.["
Science used to say that Pluto was the ninth planet.
Silverton, since your sexual orientation was a choice for you it means you're not straight.
skrekk,
sorry, I don't follow your logic here?
Finally, something the French people can feel proud of!! I truly have a new-found respect and admiration for the French. They are standing up against bigoted, abhorrently behaving and completely amoral homosexuals. How have they escaped the homosexual lobbyists promoting Narcissistic Personality Disorders as normal behavior?
Go Frenchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you have to ask stephenw, you wouldn't understand.
Why is it the "gay" community has to attack all "non-gay" institutions? (marriage, BSA, etc).
Why do they feel the need to pervert all that is around them?
Why can't they start their own organizations, their own instituations?
Why do they want to be part of organizations they clearly do not want them there? It's sick to me.
My guess is they are so desperate for people to acknowledge them, they crave attention and will stop at nothing to get it or they are mentally distrubed-which I think goes without saying.
Really? Marriage is an institution? Where are the headquarters?
Why would you deny other Americans their Rights?
I'll ignore your first comment as it is completely asinine.
I am not advocating denying anyone's rights, I am asking why do you want to interfere with my rights?
If I want belong to an organization that has certain beliefs, standards or by-laws, why am I not allowed? Why do I have to allow people that do not share my beliefs, etc? By extension, why would someone that does not share the groups beliefs, etc want to join that group.
I have absolutely no problem if people want to start their own organizations and set up their own beliefs etc.
luna: so lets talk about marriage, since that is different than the boy scouts, and that is the topic of this story.
if you oppose gay marriage, you ARE denying others rights...and you have no right to do so.
Call it a Civil Union, Call it a Domestic Partnership, Call it Licky-Licky or Sucky-Sucky-----Just don't call it Marriage!
Why? tell me how homosexual marriage undermines, in any way, heterosexual marriage.
You have a point. Let them hookup and have the same rights as all and forget the rest. Too much energy on this topic!
"Marriage" is sacred. Just ask the 50% of Americans who have gone through a divorce.
why do YOU own the word "marriage"? lol.
So a guy has anal sex with his wife it's great. A guy has anal sex with a guy it's a ticket to hell. Who cares sex is sex! Oral sex, anal sex, threesome sex don't care. Let us have an attitude of loving one another and let all who would have each other have at it. don't care let them Marry. Spend time on Child Poverty, Education, Stopping Wars, Having Fun! Get the Churches the hell out of mans life and allow them to be!
When will these idiots understand, it's not about sex...it's about LOVE. They LOVE who they are inclined to love.
Census stats show that gay marriages last 1.3 years on average. The average gay person has 1200 "partners" in their lifetime, heterosexuals, although rising, about 30. 86% of married gay couples report having multiple partners during their ... 1.3 year marriages, and over 70% approve of that behavior. Not that I care, but with stats like that... why do they want to be married at all?
PS: supersticky.... as just one simple minded male.... I aint got no desire to stick my winky into anything doing the brown bomber routine. I think that is something a lot of strange perverts convince themselves they want to do after sitting in their moms basements alone all day and night looking at porn or something. Or, maybe I am wrong and missing out on something stinky and fun... who knows? I really don't want to know.
the average gay person has 1200 partners? gay marriage lasts 1.5 years? lol, got a CREDIBLE link for those stats? or did you "read it on the internet"? :)
Ya, the census reports, and the AMA, and then... the CDC. Love you liberals who want the "link" all the time on a comment board. Are you too stupid to google up these sites on your own? Nice come back, unfortunately for you.... uh oh.
superx,
I read your comment however, historically it is non factual. Sodomy laws in the United States, which outlawed a variety of sexual acts, were historically universal. While they often targeted sexual acts between persons of the same sex, many statutes employed definitions broad enough to outlaw certain sexual acts between persons of different sexes as well, sometimes even acts between married persons.
Thomas Jefferson makes this clear, he was actually trying to lessen the penalty when he suggested an amendment to the law, for it was death then.
"Whosoever shall be guilty of Rape, Polygamy, or Sodomy with man or woman shall be punished, if a man, by castration, if a woman, by cutting thro' the cartilage of her nose a hole of one half inch diameter at the least."
Amendment VIII
Document 10
Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments
1778 Papers 2:492--504
Until 2003 Sodomy was against the law for men and woman in many states
www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/usa/usa.htm
The Sensibilities of Our Forefathers
The History of Sodomy Laws in the United States
www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/sensibilities/introduction.htm
On Thomas Jefferson, I know the mentality here. a few will say prove it where is the link:
Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments
http://
press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendVIIIs10.html
My apologize for not including it below the quote.
So? Just proves there are ignorant bigots everywhere. Interesting, but really a non-story. The gay marriage horse has already left the barn. 30 years from now we'll all wonder what the fuss was.
That makes perfect sense, well stated.
so how does concern about gay ADOPTION mean that you oppose gay MARRIAGE? Hardly makes "perfect sense".
vermontguy, still in denial much, even these French people can see what's right and wrong er, left..........
tad: you didn't answer my question. apparently YOU are in denial. :)
... "supposedly liberal France".... just gotta love the objective reporting, and now headlines that NBC pushes out to promote the "secret agenda"..... like that one?
Topless beaches, horse meat restaurants, out of control rape rates, and hey, they speak French fluently... very impressive... how much more liberal can they get? Too funny NBC.
Most States will approve the rights of gays! Most States will approve Pot. Life moves on. The gays still have the issue of aids which is a shame. Yes same problem for the heterosexual. Sex comes with a price.
Sex is sex. The gays like their anal sex oral sex as the heterosexual the same. Sex is sex. You get off and enjoy your self. Oral sex a treat. The thing is people are born as they are. Who the hell cares about the sex. It just is. It's how the people treat each other that counts. People who care for the poor , children , educate their fellow man are all going to Heaven. Stop with condemning the natural state of men. Think men should have sex with the men at least once so they get it as women should with each other. it's just sex. How about loving one another and helping each other out in a crule world
Love the sinner, but hate the sin (wrong doing).
Nowadays, it's love the sinner, who still revels/loves in wallowing in the sin/crime/perversion.
Sound familiar, liberals?
Leviticus 19:27
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
I assume you enjoy wallowing in sin Gmme, with your perverted haircuts and shaving....SINNER!!
Think the French are ahead of most of the world in being more liberal!