Pink pride in Paris

摘要

Riot-police vans lined up outside the National Assembly. Militant protesters were put under close police protection. But this week's scenes outside the French parliament had nothing to do with Mali or counter-terrorism. The cause was a bill to legalise gay marriage and adoption which parliament began to debate in a marathon sitting on January 29th. The bill has stirred devisive passions, provoking the biggest street demonstrations so far in Francois Hollande's presidency. Unmarried couples, gay or otherwise, can already enter a civil union in France, by becoming pacse. But such unions do not guarantee the same rights as marriage, notably on inheritance and pensions. The new law, a campaign promise of Mr Hollande's, would allow gay couples to marry and to adopt.