Violence, scuffles and angry demonstrations have continued in France ahead of next week's final vote on its marriage equality law. Two gay men were violently assaulted in Paris on April 7 and four skinheads reportedly sacked a gay bar in Lille on 17 April, injuring three staff. The owner of a gay bar in Bordeaux was assaulted on the same night. On 14 April, 67 protesters were arrested after a sit-in in front of the National Assembly, just one of multiple demonstrations and actions targeting socialist MPs and others who support the bill. The violence has even been mirrored in France's lower house, where scuffles broke out among rival politicians and punches were reportedly thrown during heated debate. “Since the beginning of 2013, we've received three times more reports [of homophobic acts] than over the same period in 2012,” said Elisabeth Ronzier, president of the LGBT support hotline SOS homophobie. Laure Pora, who works with the LGBT advocacy group Act Up-Paris, echoed this finding. “In the last four or five days, there has been an outburst of verbal violence from homophobic associations and strong calls to violence." The bill will be debated until the official vote scheduled for 23 April, and its opponents have called for daily demonstrations at the National Assembly. A mass protest in Paris is also planned for 26 May if the law is approved, to demand its withdrawal and a referendum on gay marriage. French President Francois Hollande has it out at the violence: "Homophobic acts, violent acts have been committed. The right to protest is recognised by our constitution and accepted by the French. But no protest must degenerate."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 20th April 2013 - 7:11pm