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France Gay Marriage Legalization Faces Backlash

Lauren Madow |
April 23, 2013 | 11:56 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

French protesters carry a sign reading "Family is sacred" (Romain Meti)
French protesters carry a sign reading "Family is sacred" (Romain Meti)
In recent weeks, France has seen both violent and peaceful demonstrations against a bill legalizing gay marriage and gay adoption. Now that France has passed the bill and become the world's 14th country to make gay marriage legal, Socialist President François Hollande and the country's gay population are facing continued protest.

SEE ALSO: France Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

France 24 reported that hundreds of thousands took to the streets in protest following the bill's passage. Some opponents of the gay marriage bill are adopting the language of revolution, calling their movement the "French Spring" and urging followers to adopt "Occupy" strategies and set up a tent city on Paris' Champs-Elysées.

Although polls show that the majority of French voters are in favor of legalizing gay marriage, according to the New York Times, the country's conservative element has rallied against the bill.

Activists have said that reports of homophobic incidents have tripled during the debate over the bill. A spate of violent attacks included the beating of Wilfred de Bruijn, whose post-attack self-portrait went viral on Facebook. Others have come forward with their stories of experiencing homophobia in France as well, including teenagers disowned by their families for their sexuality.

Read more on France's marriage equality bill and its opponents at BBC.

Reach Executive Producer Lauren Madow here. Follow her here.



 

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