Huge anti-gay marriage protest march in Paris

Taken From: BBC News UK

Date Published: May 26th, 2013

The sign reads: "I am an ass. I voted for Hollande."

Summary: Tens of thousands of people gathered together in Paris to rally against the new law allowing gay marriage and gay adoption. Police estimate its around 150,000 but organizers say its up to 1 million people there. The rally erupted when activists clashed with riot police. Nearly 100 people were arrested and around 50 were detained for blocking the Champ-Elysees. Despite having 4,500 police deployed, police were forced to use tear gas. Some protesters brought donkeys with signs that mocked the French President for voting for same-sex marriage. Leading activist Virginie Tellan, was there and was greeting protesters, but did not participate. The bill that allowed same-sex marriage and gay adoption, was signed into law by President Francois Hollande last week. It was signed in after months of heated debate. The French people have been bitterly divided over the issue. On Tuesday, a historian shot himself dead in from of the Notre Dame cathedral, leaving messages in which he denounced gay marriage. France is now the ninth country in Europe, 14th globally, to legalise gay marriage. 

Opinion: I think it the right decision to legalize same-sex marriage and gay adoption. I don't think people should be discriminated for being born a certain way. They are born that way and they cannot change it. I'm sure there are people that would change, but they simply can't because they are born that way. It isn't rational to discriminate people on something they can't change.