Thousands rally in Rome against gay rights law

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Rome yesterday for a rally to protest against a proposed law that would give greater rights to unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians.

The draft legislation, which requires parliamentary approval, has divided Italy's ruling coalition, angered the Catholic Church and roused passionate debate in the country. Waving banners and dancing to the sound of tambourines, Catholic faithful kicked off the "Family Day" rally outside Rome's St John in Lateran cathedral with a host of conservative politicians in attendance.

The rally's organisers, who handed out millions of flyers ahead of the event and plastered the city with posters, say as many as 250,000 people will attend. Just a few neighbourhoods away on Navona Square, hundreds of gay rights supporters held a smaller counter-demonstration. A third event yesterday was a prayer vigil by gay Christians in defence of the rights of gay families.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government has sponsored the bill to give more rights to couples who are not married, or not allowed to marry, on practical matters like welfare and inheritance. The Church has attacked it as an assault on family values and considers it a 'Trojan Horse' that could ultimately usher in civil marriage ceremonies for gays and lesbians. Prodi urged Italians to recognise both the importance of family and the secular state.