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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:
Perhaps the "lefties" in this country will gain a set of standards outside of "anything goes" and "we'll finance it" under the greater ideal of "spend my tax money and borrow more to pay for our ideals of no morality and destroy standards."
Perhaps the "hypocrites" in this country will stop telling lies.
"no morality"? I like my morality, which is not to deny law abiding americans equal rights. I think YOUR morality of being bigoted stinks. lol.
maybe "the righties" need to rethink THEIR morality and rediscover american values like freedom and equal rights. :)
I eally dont understand why os this is a big issue, Gay people getting married hae no affect on my life so why deny thn the right. I just some people need to get a life and stay out of others. People have a right to believe and do what they want. All gays want is equal rights so lets give it to them so they will stop protesting
Pathetic. Those who are opposing marriage equality make me sick. WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE? If anyone were to throw your "perfectly flawless and normal" (pfft) marriage up in the air for discussion and have complete biased strangers and ignorant religious (or atheist in this case) noobs debate over if you could marry the one you love or stay with your spouse, you would obviously try to stop it. Because it's WRONG. Gay people are no different, and if you feel like they're "forcing" this on you then your just looking for an excuse to cover up your "need to control and prevent" personality.
Gay people recognize what their rights are and you'll be damned if they try to protect and receive them. Give me break!
Their marriage doesn't even effect yours and I hope you look back on history some day and realize how sad you were as you desperately tried to separate two lovers from each other. NEWSFLASH in most movies and tv shows, those who get in the way of love are considered bad-guys or the antagonists. Congrats for being evil. *rolls eyes*
True, gay marriage does not affect my marriage. But neither does polygamy, pedophelia, beastiality, etc. NONE of them affect my marriage.
But that doesn't mean I want to allow them to change the definition of marriage.
False equivalency much?
Just because you don't want one silly definition to a word to be changed, you will willingly prevent millions from being with the person they want to commit themselves to.
I can't even process the fail in that.. just...just... go.
No one will prevent a person from being with the person that they are committed. That is not the argument. The argument is that the government does not have to sanction it or recognize it as marriage. Two different topics.
Really? Everyone needs the protections and legal benefits of marriage if they want to truly be with the one they love without discrimination and unfairness. They deserve EVERY right that a heterosexual couple takes for granted.
I guess everyone has a right to love and marry who they want, male or female, but it's the children of these unions I worry about. I know if I had two Dads or two Moms raising me I would have been much more screwed up than I already am, not to mention the bullying I would have been subject to in school.
Children of heterosexual marriages are just as damaged as those of single sex marriages.
Heterosexual marriages have a more than 50 percent divorce rate.
No marital relationship is a perfect one.
No relationship avoids bullying.
It's just that stuff happens and when it does we struggle, live with it and rise above it on an individual basis.
Publicizing these things to people who take the trouble to understand them helps.
Gays already have Equal Rights.
What they want is "a new definition of marriage". A definition that is considered immiral by every significant religion in human history. A definition that is even considered immoral in every atheistic (communist) society.
We have reached a tipping point, where there really are more freeloaders and perverts than normal, constructive, moral human beings.
I think you are immoral for denying rights to others. Fortunately we are becoming MORE moral, and the haters are dying off. :)
Really?...they have equal rights? Are you delusional?
Gays already have the right to marry, as the institution of marriage is defined. One can't marry one's mother, or brother, or pony. Those aren't "marriage". That does not deny anyone any "rights".
Furthermore, gays already do have the right to create powers of attorney, designate beneficiaries, be notified in case of emergency, etc, etc, etc, just like any other two people can create a contract between them. They can effectively create every "right" that a married person has. But it is not marriage. They already have those rights. For example: If I really do support my father, I can claim him as a dependent on taxes.....but we are not married.
"Perverts" are people who obsess over other's sexual orientation.
I hope we learn from them that we are the nuts!!!
OK, to all the folks who make argument against marriage equality based on the idea that some "holy book" says it's wrong. The Bible clearly teaches that divorce and remarriage IS ADULTERY. Adultery is condemned there is even a specific prohibition against it in the ten commandments. So, seeing the Bible condemns divorce and remarriage then when are we going to see a movement to out law this ungodly practice and lifestyle? PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
premarital sex needs to be illegal too! and lust! lol. ALL the sins need to be made illegal! lol.
I guess "thou shalt not kill" is just a silly superstition too!
For those who oppose gay marriage for religious reasons, I think poetic justice would be that for every Christian gay couple denied the right to marry and adopt children, there is an atheist couple taking their place.
Enough with this nonsense now! The party and leader got ELECTED in France with the purpose of legalizing same sex marriage..
Of course France just like any nation has some who are against that. But those against it are in a tiny tiny minority.
Reading this news you could be lead to believe everyone in France is against same sex marriage when they actually got elected on that very thing ;)
I should also note that it has been legal in Sweden now for years and nothing evil happened..
Reason and logic have no place in this discussion..... It is about voicing hate and bigotry about people who are different from you. Then, you excuse your bigotry by blaming it on the "lord".
You also need to pretend your minority view is the view of the majority. You need to disregard the fact that two-thirds of the French SUPPORT same sex marriage.
Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Iceland, Argentina, South Africa, nine US states, parts of Brazil and Mexico City.
Like you said, they have been perfectly fine. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH GAY MARRIAGE. And adoption by gay parents is also perfectly fine. I'm sure kids around the world would agree that that they would do anything to have two loving parents over divorced parents or sitting in an orphanage in a third world country.
And guess what? That list will grow. France, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Delaware, Rhode Island, Illinois, California and Ireland will likely soon be added,
You cannot stop love. We are taught that countless times.
That's the only reason he got elected?
Mr Magneto,
There are around 196 countries in the world, out of the 196, 11 countries nationally recognize same sex marriage, which means 185 world wide do not.
48 of the 196 countries are a part of Europe, of those only 7 have Nationally allowed same sex marriage to be legalized, which means 41 have not. So either the majority of the world is bigoted, or possibly you need to rethink things. I see your attacks on married couples which is your prerogative. However it is not factual in all cases.
My parents were divorced and remarried several times. Myself and my siblings have only been married once and still are married to the same spouses for over 30 years. we are now very happy grandparents.
There are many of us who have been with one spouse with none of the problems you choose to attack. Personally I see your attacks as quite bigoted tawards the majority of the worlds population.
I am not saying the whole world is bigoted. But that it is simply changing.
Children should be adopted by couples composed of a man and a women. Not a gay couple, not a single woman, not a single man. Children benefit from having a mother and a father. End of story.
Polygamy? But then the childrens will learn to be polygamists!
If , IT`S ABOUT TIME .. wishes to suck dog or eat carpet .. that`s your free will of choice . don`t change an entire moral code to clear your guilt
Good for France, not just accepting everything because they are "suppose to be the liberal state." And you don't have to be a "religious nutjob" as some of you people call it, to oppose gay marriage.
1,000,000 people in France?? ....seems the vast majority of the country is against gay marriage.......
1,000,000 against the other 64,000,000 who aren't protesting therefore whom don't care/support.
No. you mean minority.
Magneto, let's look at the public health issues here. HIV - the gay disease has been on the decline in France thanks to the work of the heterosexual community of scientists and doctors to treat their less fortunate gay brothers. Has the gay community ever expressed their appreciation - No. If the world was as homophobic as you claim, we would have let the disease wipe your people out and there would be no problem.
Atelier, perhaps you can explain why approximately 85% of all new cases of "the gay disease" worldwide are among heterosexual men?
I can't believe anyone can be as clueless as you seem to be.
Well this will not be settled. Hope all people can be considerate and help the poor, sick, starving, and encourage those around them for a positive future. Life is too short
Let them eat cake! And snails!
(A good balance of proteins, carbs and fats!)
If people are against gay adoption because "a child needs one mother and one father" then I guess we should take away all the kids of single parents and make pregnancy outside of marriage illegal. Also, heaven forbid a grandparent should raise his or her grandchild!
I myself have no probelm with a lot of gay rights but I agree with those who say adoption is a bad idea. Gays are not qualified to be parents nor are they a good example for kids. Despite that I believe these things.
Gays should have the right to be gay. Yes. Gays should have the right to be a
couple. I don't see why not. Gays can even be a couple and call it marriage. Hey
what ever floats your boat. Do what you want I and will not judge you though I
do like to make fun of you because it is so easy.
I have a problem with you though if you are a gay Christian. The two don't
really mix. First of all God calls it "detestible." Also look at the beginning
of Romans. It says it is a "shameful lust." It also says, "Men committed
indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for
their perversion." Wow. The "due penalty" is actually an STD I would imagine. So
this is kind of like a "God told you so" verse. If this is what God says about
unbelievers who were homosexuals than how much more so ministers. If you are a
minister who supports gay rights in the church or is gay, you are an
abomination. You are the devil in the church. Any right minded Christian should
break any ties they have to such a church. Run, Flee. Get the hell out. As for
gay ministers who marry, you make me want to vomit which is exactly what I think
God would say too. Gay ministers are fakes and false teachers. I'm sure Jesus
himself would call it an abmonition. "Not the smallest letter" will disappear
from the law. You teach lies. Beware. Do not be caught calling God a liar as the
devil did.
If you subscribe to a predominantly evolutionary worldview of physical and social development it is clear that homosexuality has not been selected for propagation of the species -- it is an aberration of nature. If you subscribe to a "religious" worldview of physical and social development it s clear that homosexuality is not natural, but an aberration of nature.
Everything is an aberration of nature. It all evolved. Get over it.
They were qreers with rights now they want to be gay what happened??
It is sad to think that at one time France had a more liberal lifestyle than the U.S. We were embarrassed by their liberal lifestyle. Now our morals have declined so much that France is embarassed of us. The homosexual lifestyle stands in judgment against theirselves. Ex. Homosexuals want to adopt. Why is this? Because God placed in every man and woman the deep desire to have children. Homosexuals cannot reproduce this only states their lifestyle is wrong, abominable. Our nation was founded on the Jesus Christ, God, and the word of God. No matter how much you want to deny it, look away from it, harden your heart against it. It is a Historical fact. To think a man would lust after another mans rear end. A man's tail was meant for one thing and that is pooping. We have reached the point in our Nation that people no longer know right from wrong, they cannot even discern good from bad. I agree homosexuals have the right to have rights. However, Marriage was ordained by God. Homosexual and Lesbians were not included. Our nation can pass laws stating Homosexual marriage is legal. But there is a higher law that we will all be judged by and that law say's it is sin. And when sin is conceived it bringeth worth death. That is why our nation is slowly but surely dying. America always say's God bless America. Will it is time for America to start blessing God by our lifestyles, our speech and whom we elect to place in positions of authority over our Nation. This is not prejudice. You can only be prejudice against a race of people such as white, black, native American. These people were created by God. Homosexual and Lesbians were not. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!
God created Man and Woman to complement each other and make babies. He never created marriage. Marriage is a human invention. And so is monogamy (but who can afford several wives in 2013 except the oil sheiks ?). Two men making love is called "Sodomy". The human body is not meant for sodomy ! Two women making love have to resort to.. well, you know what, don't you ? That said, what gays do in private is their own affair. But for God's sake and ours they should NEVER be allowed to publicize their relationship, let alone demands rights to be seen as normal couples, and adopt children (which is the next step, because they can't procreate, no kidding !) even less. Live with the 21 century ? My a**. Our society, including Europe, is going to the dogs. Period. Homosexuality was considered as a strength in Ancient Greece, especially in Sparta, and among the military, that's a historical truth. But these were the times when Greece was already on the path of decadence and ripe to be eaten alive by their enemies. We are following them into decadence. The USA were founded on Christian beliefs. Homosexuality is NOT christian; it's 100% against nature. I dare anybody to name ONE homosexual mammal (other than human beings).
Dear Snyper3000,
God did create marriage my brother. When he took the rib from
man and created woman and he bought the woman to the man(Adam). Note he did not bring a man to the man. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be Fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it. This is actually the first marriage. I do like your point on Gay Greece in the battle field. Note these nations that gave into Homosexual lifestyles are no longer in existence. God must judge sin.
Dear LarryH1
You are right, and I should have been more specific about that very first marriage. I was focusing on secular marriage, and that's the mistake I made. May God forgive me for that. Thank you for pointing it out. And yes God must and will judge sin again as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Bless you, Larry.
Gays should have the right to be gay. Yes. Gays should have the right to be a
couple. I don't see why not. Gays can even be a couple and call it marriage. Hey
what ever floats your boat. Do what you want I and will not judge you though I
do like to make fun of you because it is so easy. I do say though that gay adoption is detestible.
I have a problem with you though if you are a gay Christian. The two don't
really mix. First of all God calls it "detestible." Also look at the beginning
of Romans. It says it is a "shameful lust." It also says, "Men committed
indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for
their perversion." Wow. The "due penalty" is actually an STD I would imagine. So
this is kind of like a "God told you so" verse. If this is what God says about
unbelievers who were homosexuals than how much more so ministers. If you are a
minister who supports gay rights in the church or is gay, you are an
abomination. You are the devil in the church. Any right minded Christian should
break any ties they have to such a church. Run, Flee. Get the hell out. As for
gay ministers who marry, you make me want to vomit which is exactly what I think
God would say too. Gay ministers are fakes and false teachers. I'm sure Jesus
himself would call it an abmonition. "Not the smallest letter" will disappear
from the law. You teach lies. Beware. Do not be caught calling God a liar as the
devil did.
Been speaking to God? How foolish you look.
A terrible plague has befallen gay men accross the
country. We ask you to give to help the helpless. Gay male incontinence is a
sensitive subject to some but we help thousands of gay men accross the country
deal with the problem of gay male incontinence. We are desperately seeking a
cure and thats where we need your help. We have the most advanced butt
rehabilitation centers in the country. For some though it is too late and we
help them too feel good about themselves again. Here is a real
testimonial:
"It started with just a little leakage when I had
diarrhea. There was nothing I could do and soon I couldn't even hold back the
big logs. Butt Treatment Centers of America helped me to feel like a person
again. Now I am gay, I wear diapers and I am proud of
myself."
Please help before its too late. Only people like
you can help us put an end to homosexual male
incontinence.
Religious nuts are the same all over whether in France, Afghanistan, the U.S. or Isreal.
Don't put everyone into the same basket. It's a mark of ignorance. Islam is a huge threat, the French aren't. It's Islam that kills hundreds of Americans and Europeans, not the USA, not France. Bear that in mind. As for Israel (yes, it is real - check your spelling) it's surrounded by enemies: the Egyptians, the Palestinians, Hamas, Hezbollah. Islam again. The Israelis are not a bunch of religious nuts, they're defending their homeland. As for France, most people there don't go to church, nor do they really believe in God anymore. The USA were founded on christian principles, and these principles still hold; that's why it is "the land of the free and the home of the brave", and the example every free nation should follow.
All these different people from different backgrounds and different religions... all uniting under the common banner of hate. It's so heartwarming!
More anti-gay anti-liberal vigina humor.
Faggots like to say that homosexuality is
genetic and that they were born that way. So what you are saying is that you
were born with a genetic defect which causes you to think you are a woman and
that your butt is a vagina. If all the
homos out there just admitted they need help, then maybe we could develope a
medication to treat this irrational behavior. Maybe you need brain surgery to
correct this defect. What are you saying you were born with? Are you saying you
were born with a penis in your butt.
Everything is a choice. Every decision that you make is a choice. You can choose
not to wipe your butt. It doesn't
mean you should. Get over it. You chose to
disgrace yourself and play with
poo, germy, germy poo.
Hey. What's a devil worshipper that doesn't hide it? An abortion clinic doctor. You might say "well that's an outrage." I ask what feeds an abortion clinic doctors household? Dead fetuses. Litterally and figuratively. That is how he makes his money and feeds his household. Mmm. Eat your dead baby abortion clinic doctor. I bet you feel just great about yourself when the fetuses move when you stick in the instruments of death. You made killing an industry and say its a doctors office. Good day. No hard feelings. I hope you can take a joke. Oh no! If it weren't true it wouldn't make you mad or hurt your feelings.
Ahhhh...Jeeeze Norm the poo obsessed pudding sister ...what a hoot ...it's amazing you haven't gone viral yet....
This has got to be confusing for opinion entertainers on Dumb FUX NEWS.
Do dumb FUX still hate the French now?
What about all them "Freedom Fries"
It must be really difficult being dumb FUX in the 21st century...
newbook,
You're beautiful!!
To all you liberal lunatics "dumb FUX NEWS" is the problem. Shows how DUMB YOU really are. Please keep it up!!
I'm laughing...........I'm laughing some more..........
P.S. About "still hating the French"??? No, only some of them.........
and WHAT station do YOU listen to Bernie?
manno,
Hey s(hmuck.....All of them. But, what difference does it make?
Bet newbook NEVER listens to "FUX NEWS".