Hundreds of thousands of same-sex marriage opponents gathered in Paris on Sunday to protest the passage of 
the French government’s Bill allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, which came into force earlier this month.
It is the third such demonstration in only a few months. They are the biggest demonstrations France has seen in over 30 years.
A number of large park grounds around in central Paris were full of protesters waving pink and blue flags representing the two sexes.
The protests, which began as a grass roots campaign backed by the Catholic Church, have become a wider movement.
Although they have failed to block same-sex marriage, the protesters hope their renewed show of force will help stop or slow down further laws some Socialists want allowing assisted procreation and surrogate motherhood for same-sex couples.
Opponents of the Socialist government’s legalisation have also come together to stand up for the freedom of conscience of religious individuals and institutions who could find themselves the target of ‘anti-discrimination’ legislation.
Entitled Objection, the coalition has put together a manifesto outlining the threats posed by the government’s passage of same-sex legislation.
Jean-Francois Cope, leader of the opposition UMP party, marched in the demonstration and urged young protesters to join his party to keep up pressure on the left-wing government.
“The next rendez-vous should be at the ballot boxes for the municipal elections,” he said, referring to local polls due next year where the centre-right opposition hope to profit from the protest movement’s unexpectedly strong mobilisation.
While the rally was peaceful throughout much of the day, police said they arrested 96 demonstrators for refusing to disperse or occupying private property.
Once the bulk of protesters had gone home, clashes erupted between hardliners wielding sticks and riot police, filling the Invalides Esplanade with tear gas.
A survey published on Sunday showed 53 percent of those polled support gay marriage and adoption, indicating a slide of about 10 points since the protests began last November. It said 72 percent thought the protests should stop now.
France’s first gay wedding is due to take place on Wednesday in Montpellier, France’s self-proclaimed capital of gay culture.