Thousands protest in Rome over Italy's same-sex marriage proposals

Hundreds of thousands of Italians gathered in Rome to demonstrate against gay unions and the teaching of gender theories in schools, as Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tries to push a civil union bill through parliament.

Holding aloft banners reading "The family will save the world" and "Let's defend our children," a sea of people crammed into San Giovanni Square near the Italian capital's historic centre to support family values.

The square, which can hold an estimated 300,000 people, was overflowing on Saturday with the young, elderly and parents with toddlers, with many more demonstrators spilling into nearby streets. Organisers said a million people took part. Italian police never provide figures for demonstrations.

"In my children's schools they are talking about families made up of two fathers or two mothers, without asking parents' permission," said 41-year old doctor Giuseppe Ripa, adding: "It's dangerous and wrong."

The protest comes as the Italian Senate examines a civil-union bill, which Renzi wants to see go to a vote in the coming weeks, with legislation being enacted before the end of July.

The call for Italy to keep pace with its Western European neighbours on the issue has grown stronger since Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage last month. But rights activists warn it will be no mean feat for the leader of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party to find allies across the political spectrum, blaming an excessive influence of the Catholic clergy on the political class.