The controversial Ukrainian group Femen, whose topless members stage pranks to support gay rights, have taunted a march in Paris by Catholics who oppose France's draft law to legalize gay marriage.

The Catholic group Civitas organized Sunday's march by several thousand people carrying pro-family banners.

Several Femen activists turned up topless, chanted "in gay we trust" and sprayed white powder from bottles.

That prompted several anti-gay marriage protesters to hit the Femen members and push them to the ground.

On Saturday several thousand people took to the streets in cities across France to protest the draft law, which could see marriage and adoption legalized for homosexual couples early next year.