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Remy De La Mauviniere / AP
French justice minister Christiane Taubira, right, sits on the government bench with social affairs minister Dominique Bertinotti, center, and prime minister Jean Marc Ayrault, during the vote at the National Assembly in Paris, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013, of a new law legalizing gay marriage. France's lower house of parliament has approved a sweeping bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
France's lower house of parliament approved a sweeping bill on Tuesday to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children, handing a major legislative victory to President Francois Hollande's Socialists on a divisive social issue.
The measure, approved in the National Assembly in a 329-to-229 vote, puts France on track to join about a dozen mostly European nations that allow gay marriage and comes despite a string of recent demonstrations by opponents of the so-called "marriage for all" bill.
Polls indicate a narrow majority of French support legalizing gay marriage, though that support falls when questions about the adoption and conception of children come into play.
The Assembly has been debating the bill, and voting on its individual articles in recent weeks. The overall legislation now goes in the coming weeks to the Senate, which also is controlled by the governing Socialists and their allies.
With Tuesday's vote, France joins Britain in taking a major legislative step in recent weeks toward allowing gay marriage and adoption — making them the largest European countries to do so. The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Spain, as well as Argentina, Canada and South Africa have authorized gay marriage, along with nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
The issue has exposed fault lines between a progressive-minded leftist legislative majority in officially secular France, and the country's conservative religious roots. Critics — including many Roman Catholics — have railed that the bill would erode the traditional family. Socialists, however, sought to depict the issue as one of equal rights, and they played off France's famed Revolution-era motto of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity."
"This law is going to extend to all families the protections guaranteed by the institution of marriage," Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said before Tuesday's vote. "Contrary to what those who vociferate against it say — fortunately they're in the minority — this law is going to strengthen the institution of marriage."
'Social evolution'
As with many major and controversial reforms in France, the issue drew its share of political grandstanding over weeks of debate. Conservative opponents forced a discussion of nearly 5,000 amendments, a move derided by Socialists as inconsequential stalling tactics. But by the final vote, the government rank-and-file rolled out grand, solemn statements of victory.
"This law is a first necessary step, a social evolution that benefits society overall," said Socialist representative Corinne Narassiguin, announcing her party's support for the measure. "Opening up marriage and adoption to homosexual couples is a very beautiful advance. ... It is an emblematic vote, a vote that will mark history."
However, the political right hasn't given up just yet, saying the Constitutional Court — whose 12 members include three former French presidents and several other prominent conservatives — will determine whether the law, if finally passed, meshes with the law of the land.
"So it's not the end of the story yet," said Herve Mariton, a member of the main opposition UMP party. "We still have arguments to make and we want to convince people that it is not a good project."
The government didn't get all it wanted. The Socialists last month backed off plans to link the gay marriage measure to relaxed restrictions on fertility treatments, after catching political heat for its stance on assisted reproduction. The issue is expected to come up in a separate bill later this year.
Hollande made legalizing gay marriage one of the planks in his 60-point program on the way to winning the presidency in May over conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. But Hollande's popularity has fallen along with France's lackluster economic performance, and his foes on the right appear to sense he might be vulnerable on a high-profile social issue.
The latest polls suggest a narrow majority of French support gay marriage, but that has declined from about two-thirds support in August. In mid-January, at least 340,000 people swarmed on the Eiffel Tower to protest the plan to legalize gay marriage, according to police estimates. Two weeks later, about 125,000 proponents of the bill marched in the capital.
French civil unions, allowed since 1999, are at least as popular among heterosexuals as among gay and lesbian couples. But that law has no provisions for adoption or assisted reproduction.
Related:
Why some in supposedly liberal France are up in arms about gay marriage
Leave a Comment:
Now, if the U.S. Congress will just repeal DOMA and allow same sex couples to get the benefits accrued to heterosexual couples.
I agree.
How does gay marriage destroy America? Majority believe in the separation of church and state. How can you uphold the constitution while denying the 9th amendment? Homosexuality is not immoral.
If religion is such a big issue to anyone, then they should know that homosexuality is mentioned once in the old testament as a sin. Same as eating pork, shrimp, lobster etc. It also says women should remain silent in church and if we were to enforce religious doctrine in law, then why are women allowed to work? Same about divorce.
Taking religion out of it, how can you justify denying gay marriage? You can't.
Religion was a way to help humanity move forward. We're past that now and it is only holding us back.
Glad France and the UK woke up. Now for America...
I am sorry, but religion is not out of it. If it were, gay marriage would have been legal in the USA and in many more nations by this point.
What about tanssexuals? Should they or its be allowed to marry and have children? Who is going to pay for the mistakes?What about the sex transfer surgery? Should we all chip in to pay the $50,000 to $100,000 for another sexually confused jerk to have a sex change?
King,
Who are you to quote the laws of nature? I would suggest that as we see the earth's population forcing us to expend all the natural resources, Homosexuality is NATURAL and its function is to allow a balance in the population. China recently enforced its "One child" policy, but as shocking as that is history shows us that the population of women has been controlled by men for ever, since the beginning of time. Even in the bible we see women as a sort of commodity that was bought and sold or destroyed at will.
This is religion, not nature at work. I love to hear some religious fanatic acclaim that this or that is against the laws of nature when religion is the greatest enemy of nature. The Bible says the believers were given ALL the resources of earth to use at will. That right folks, use it, eat it, destroy itif you want to because God says it is all right to do so.
Lazarus
what's a "tanssexuals".....never heard of it....maybe it's something you do while tanning....???
so many idiots and so little time.....sigh:)
This is so cool...what an advancement for society.
Can't wait to see what other stupid, needless legislation comes out of all these countries, including ours.
Like there's no other pressing issues...jobs,economy, islamic terrorism...wow...what a bunch of idiots we've elected.
Plus where's all the money we gave them...pissed away on junk like this.
You may find this useless or needless but if this is passed here in the US 30 million Americanswill not find this useless.
Governments are able to work on other things than just jobs and the economy and infect that's exactly what I expect of the government. If equality and freedom is not at least as important as the economy I don't low what else is.
King: Yes, President Obama's complete ineffectiveness as a leader is exactly why he was so soundly defeated last year in his futile re-election effort. Oh, wait, this just in...
PS... VIVE LE FRANCE!
so bitter and so defeated in the last election....is there a correlation???
and yes VIVE LE FRANCE.....haters can suck it!!!
Whaaaaaa...stuff you're gay crap...take your ball and go home...we need jobs not more Queers.
RP
if you are *that* concerned about jobs, get off these news articles then and stop paying attention to them. use your time wisely and go job hunting.
I wpnder ,will these new laws include the same rights for transexuals.Why should they be discriminated against.It's not fair.If homosexuals get the right to marry and have children,why shouldn't transexuals.FREE THE TRANNIES!
aha I see you still can't properly spell "transsexual"!!!
what's with you dude.....smdh.......stop the hate and ignorance.....and yes you are correct transgendered peeps should NOT be discriminate against......what's your point....besides the one on ya tin foil hat......must have had a sale on Reynolds Wrap at the Giant this week....
Amazing. It really is humbling to hear that humanity just took a big leap. Well done France. You did the right thing.
Everyone is created equal and gays are not an infliction on society but truly are a benefit. They're teaching people acceptance and real love.
Gays have had their rights denied for as long as we can remember. They're fed up. And they have every right to be. While that does not excuse some gays attitude towards the situation, you can hardly blame them.
Those opposing marriage equality have no real stance to go off of other than what a book says.
Equality of marrigae is nothing more than equality in entitlements.I presume the public will be on the hook for all the artificial inseminations that might be needed to have a child. Read the article again! The French are not too keen on homosexuals adopting kids.Who is going to pay for the kids? What about trannies? Is the public going to have to pay for their sex change operations? Will trannies have to be allowed to be boy scout leaders? Will we hace to accept a trannie that goes crazy(if that's possible) and decides to mary a horse and wants to be a horse?Should trannies be allowed to adopt?That would be special!After all,it is glbt(gays,lesbians,bisexuals and transexuals).
It simply means the same laws apply equally to all citizens, meaning that you bigots and Christofascists no longer get special rights and privileges. For similar reasons we don't have separate driver's licenses or separate mortgage contracts for gays and straights, or "homosexual law" vs "heterosexual law." Just one body of law which applies to everyone equally.
That must frustrate you terribly to know that the people you hate will soon have the exact same rights you already enjoy.
"this law is going to strengthen the institution of marriage."
This law in France and everywhere else is going to plung the world into deeper darkness. You could get the whole world to be in agreement with this same-sex life style, but in the end, those who practice, support and tollerate it, won't get by God. This is simply a matter of people justifying and embracing sexual immorality, which is the opposite of repentance. No need to argue with me though, for those who continue in this, the truth will be made clear when they take their last breath. And just like the "Rich man" found in Luke 16:19, And once a person dies there is no way to change the outcome and no way to come back and warn anyone. The good news is that, Jesus shed His blood in payment for our sins, but He requires repentance, which means a change of mind and heart, a turning away from the sinful nature and towards God. All arguments are in vain, because the truth will come to light for the unbeliever once he or she takes their last breath. If you will receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and repent, He promises forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.
ha ha ha.....won't get by God.....that's Hysterical.....1st of all who's god....there are HUNDREDS....2nd of all not everyone believes in Gods......here in America we have this pesky document called the CONSTITUTION....perhaps you have heard of it.....this document clearly states there is a separation of church and state and it also states that we are ALL created equal.......your argument is old and tired...get some new material please!!!
Is that the same constitution that guarantees my right to disagree with gay thought and protects my right to bear arms????
That pesky document?
The same one that allows me to call people that believe as such...crazy and weird?
Homonazis are all the same ....... But, their is a sick pleasure in watching all of you have hissy fits when you can't get your way...ha,ha,ha,
It is sheer bigotry that prevents gay couples from getting married.
On the issue of assisted reproduction, for hetero-and homosexuals...I don't think it should be against the law, but it should not be encouraged. If you are having fertility issues, adopt. There are too many people in the world anyway, and adoption may end up being the less expensive option. You are not so important that your genes absolutely HAVE to be passed on. There are plenty of children in need of homes, in every country in the world.
I'll bet that 100% of the Christofascists commenting in this thread are unaware that marriage is explicitly a secular legal contract in France, and that no marriage can be performed in a church.
Even though marriage in the US is also just a secular legal contract, we've made the mistake of allowing marriages to be formalized in churches rather than only in a government office. As a consequence, too many people confuse marriage with the irrelevant religious rite of "holy matrimony." We'd have a similar problem if we allowed churches to officiate when mortgage contracts are signed or when driver's licenses are issued.
Gay this, gay that....1-2% of population whining, crying.....whaaaaaaaaa