Hundreds of thousands of protesters have blocked the streets in the centre of Madrid, demonstrating against a proposal to legalise gay marriage and allow gay couples to adopt. Chanting in favour of the family and children's rights, demonstrators waved colourful ballons and flags.
The protest was led by 20 Roman Catholic bishops, conservative opposition leaders and the Spanish Forum for the Family. Ahead of the protest, deputy socialist Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega defended the bill and accused protesters of discrimination, saying their actions meant they wanted the rights they enjoyed to be denied to others.
She said that the new law "does not oblige anyone to do anything they don't want to do". The bill is expected to become law in a matter of weeks after it is voted on next week by the Senate. According to opinion polls, most people in Spain support the bill.
But demonstrators were angry at what they called the degradation of the institution of marriage and the fact that gay couples may adopt.
I think this is so stupid. |