Thousands of marchers protested France’s new Gay Marriage Law, which weeks of opposition protests failed to block.  Although 96 people were arrested, fears of violence from hardliners infiltrating the march did not materialize.

The protests began with pressure and organization from the Roman Catholic Church, but have evolved into a wider movement with opposition politicians and far-right militants airing their discontent with Prime Minister Francois Hollande and the ailing economy.  Rightist and opposition leaders are promising to rewrite the law and take Gay Couples’ rights away.  With that change in focus, Catholic clerics began distancing themselves from the rallies and Hollande’s cratered poll numbers have upticked a little bit.

The Gay Marriage Law was passed by Parliament and validated but the constitutional court this month. 

A survey published over the weekend showed 53 percent of French Citizens support gay marriage and adoption.  That’s down 10 points since the protests began last November, but still a majority.  Interestingly, the same poll showed that 72 percent say the protests should stop now.

France's first gay wedding is due to take place on Wednesday in Montpellier, France's self-proclaimed capital of Gay culture.