Thousands of French people have held a mass demonstration to show their support for "traditional family" values and call on candidates for the next year's presidential election to uphold policies securing the traditional family union.
A multitude of demonstrators marched through the streets of the capital Paris on Sunday in support of the natural social bond between man and woman.
Police said up to 24,000 people took part in the rally, while organizers of the demonstration announced a much higher number of participants.
The demonstrators headed toward the Trocadero concourse in front of the Eiffel Tower, while some held placards advocating basic family values such as "A father and a mother, it's hereditary."
"I am against gay marriage and against … leaders who oppose the power of the people," said 72-year-old retired engineer, Michel Delaune.
Three years ago, organizers of the pro-family "La Manif pour Tous" campaign, at one point, claimed to have summoned 1.4 million demonstrators on the streets of Paris to show their support for the family union.
The movement then lost momentum after the French government passed a bill introduced in 2013 by then Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, legalizing same-sex marriage.
The campaigners accuse France's government of "family-phobia" for legalizing gay marriage, and they say other planned education policies will harm "traditional families."
The leader of the group, Ludovine de la Rochere, said the movement now had "a bright future" ahead because President Francois Hollande's Socialist government had "destabilized families," giving fresh impetus to the pro-family campaign.
However, none of the leading candidates of the right-wing opposition for the next year's presidential election has voiced their support for family values if they are elected.
