French MPs pass marriage bill

French Lower House MPs have approved a marriage equality bill to legalise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt, just a week after the British House of Commons passed its own gay marriage bill.

The French National Assembly passed the ‘Marriage for All’ bill with 329-229 votes in favour.

According to French media outlets, François Hollande’s Socialists pushed the measure through despite 10 ministers abstaining from the vote.

The bill must now head to the France’s Upper House, the Sénat, on April 2 where it is expected to pass due to a Socialists’ majority.

Polls show most French people support legalising gay marriage, but there have been rallies involving hundreds of thousands of people for and against the issue in France this year.

Australian Marriage Equality national director,Rodney Croome said the French vote, together with last week’s overwhelming vote in the UK Parliament, highlighted how quickly Australia was falling behind other Western countries.

“France’s message to Australia and the world is that the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity apply equally to same-sex couples,” he said.

“Given the romance associated with Paris I expect many Australian same-sex couples will marry under the new French law, only to return to Australia to find their solemn vow count for nothing.”