France approves same sex marriage and adoption law

THE French parliament has formally approved a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and to adopt children, a flagship reform pledge by president Francois Hollande which sparked violent protests and a rise in homophobic attacks.

Mr Hollande’s “marriage for all” law is the biggest social reform in France since his left-wing mentor and predecessor Francois Mitterrand abolished the death penalty in 1981, a move which also split the nation.

MPs in the lower house National Assembly, where Mr Hollande’s Socialists have an absolute majority, passed the bill by 331 votes for and 225 against yesterday, making France the 14th country in the world to allow same-sex couples to wed.

“Many French people will be proud this job is done,” justice minister Christiane Taubira told parliament. “Those protesting will find themselves moved by the joy of the newly-weds.”

France, a mainly Catholic country, follows 13 others in letting gay and lesbian couples wed.

Unlike Mr Mitterrand’s abolition of the guillotine – which most opposed – polls showed over half the country backed Mr Hollande’s gay marriage law.