Gay Activists' Mass 'Kiss-in' Outside French Cathedral Sparks Counter-Protest

Gay rights activists staging a mass kiss-in to protest homophobia faced off with Roman Catholic protesters late Tuesday outside Lyon cathedral in southeastern France.

Gay rights activists staging a mass "kiss-in" to protest homophobia had a tussle with Roman Catholic protesters late Tuesday outside Lyon cathedral in southeastern France.

About 200 gay campaigners gathered outside the cathedral were heckled by dozens of counter protesters, including a group of skinheads wearing dark blue uniforms and gloves who gave a Nazi salute.

Safe Sex
Sex is fun but involves health risks such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs or unplanned pregnancy specially in those who have multiple partners or in those having unprotected sex.

Police and paramilitary gendarmes kept the two groups apart, as they shouted slogans at each other in a face off that lasted more than two hours.

An hour into the demonstration, around 10 gay couples staged their "kiss-in" to applause from their supporters and heckling from the counter-protesters.

"It is a victory against obscurantism and intolerance," David Souvestre, president of Gay Pride Lyon, told reporters.

Sex Education For Teenagers
Encyclopedia section of medindia explaining about Why Sex Education Is Required For Teenagers?

"But the presence of fundamentalists here, that was predictable," he added.

Gay rights activists carried placards and banners including one declaring "Homophobia Kills. Free to love everywhere."

About AIDS
"AIDS is an epidemic disease, a potentially preventable, deadly infection for which there is no cure, no vaccine, and it is not under control." - National Commission on AIDS, 1993.

Banners held by the Catholic counter-protesters including one that read: "We are the children of heteros, first, second, third generation". Other Catholics dropped to their knees and said Hail Marys.

The demonstration had originally been scheduled for Saturday, International Day against Homophobia, but local officials postponed it despite the protests of the gay rights groups involved.

Source-AFP
THK