With polls showing rising support for same-sex marriage, proponents and many pundits insist there’s no turning back. In fact, a new study released recently by the Pew Research Center found that 72 percent of Americans now believe that it’s “inevitable” that we’ll legally recognize same sex marriage in this country. That’s up from 59 percent in 2004. Perhaps those of us who don’t think same-sex marriage is really marriage and believe it should be defined as the union between one man and one woman, simply need to drop that belief and get on the right side of history.

Not so fast! Maybe we, here in the US, should learn something from what’s taking place in France, which, last month, became the 14th country to legalize same sex marriage. This was a key campaign promise made by Socialist French President Francois Hollande. It was done hastily with debate squelched, perhaps in violation of the French constitution.

But, for the French, this is not going down easily. Four massive mobilizations have taken place in France since November, two before the law was passed, and two since. These have involved millions of people necessitating thousands of riot police and even tear gas. Roads in Paris and other cities were blocked and transportation systems paralyzed.

Robert Oscar Lopez is an associate professor — with tenure — of English and classics at California State University, Northridge. In a recent column at the Witherspoon Institute’s Public Discourse, he argues that those who insist legal same-sex marriage is inevitable, are making a couple of fallacious assumptions:  One is  “that the increase in support for same sex marriage will be consistent over time rather than fickle.” The second is that same sex marriage is gaining support because people are becoming more enlightened about it, often from knowing someone who is gay.

Again we look to the French who “had little issue with” domestic partnerships, passed in the 90’s. In the fall of 2012 polls showed support of same sex marriage at its peak in France: 60 percent. Now, after French people learned more about what comes with same sex marriage and, as they are exposed to public discussion on the subject, they’re souring on it. Polls now show support hovering around 39 percent.

The French are — famously— family oriented and child focused. The change in public opinion is taking place as citizens are coming to grips with what legal gay marriage means for children. After President Hollande signed the law, discussions escalated about sperm banking and artificial reproduction which are frowned upon in France more than here in the US. Among the French, there is a decided lack of comfort with adoption by same sex couples, allowed as part of the new law, and surrogacy, which is not, but still takes place using women from other countries.

In Illinois, a blue state, same-sex marriage was turned back the week before last. It’s not inevitable.