Hundreds of pro and anti same-sex marriage campaigners protest at Trafalgar Square
Hundreds of pro and anti equal marriage campaigners have met in a noisy protest at Trafalgar Square in central London that is still ongoing.
French anti-equality group La Manif pour Tous was granted permission to hold the rally to coincide with a large-scale anti-equal marriage protest at the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Several hundred of its supporters and the supporters of British anti-gay rights groups were greeted with hundreds of pro-equality supporters at the protest that began at 2pm.
Ironically for the French protestors, Trafalgar Square commemorates the British victory over France in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Pro-equality Student Eliza Goroya staged a semi-naked protest. She told PinkNews.co.uk: “I want to be on the right side of history, so when you look at photos of the fight for equality and human rights for women, black and other minorities I will know I was n the right side of it!”
Out4Marriage said: “The scale of the counter protest shows that the public very much support equal marriage, regardless of what French and other protesters might try to make you believe.”
The co-ordinator of the anti-gay rights protest, Damien Fournier Montgieux explained why he organised the protest: “Almost out of nowhere we are suddenly faced with a huge challenge to the future of marriage and the family in both France and the UK. There has been no warning or consultation with the people.”
He and other protestors claimed that the future welfare of children will be put at risk from allowing same-sex couples to marry.
The protest will continue until at least 5pm. PinkNews.co.uk will report more news from the protest later this evening.
Additional newsgathering: James-J Walsh
