France: Historic Vote Legalises Gay Marriage

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent

The French parliament has become the 14th in the world to pass a law extending marriage to same sex couples.

After a fractious and sometimes violent public debate, MPs voted by 331 to 225 in favour of the measure, which also allows gay couples to adopt children.

Minutes before the historic vote, a protester dressed in pink - the colour adopted by those opposed to the measure - was forcibly removed from the chamber.

President Francois Hollande made changing the law an electoral priority, much to the anger of religious groups. Catholic, Muslim and Jewish leaders in France all opposed the legislation.

They formed a loose protest coalition with the fractured UMP conservative opposition party, which had been languishing in the polls after Nicolas Sarkozy's defeat in the 2012 elections.

But French polls revealed a gradual shift in public opinion. In a recent survey 58% said they supported same-sex marriage, while 53% opposed adoption by gay parents.

The debate has led to violent clashes on the streets of France, which organisers of the opposition coalition blamed on far-right extremists infiltrating their marches.

A threatening letter was even sent to the speaker of the Assemblee Nationale which contained traces of gunpowder and the message: "You wanted war and you've got it."

Human rights groups say the language of the movement, known as "A Protest For Everyone" has been so toxic it has led to a spike in homophobic attacks.

Protesters mounted last ditch efforts to prevent the law being passed

A Dutch man was attacked by a gang as he walked with his male partner in Paris, while gay bars in Lille and Bordeaux were targeted by skinhead gangs.

Despite the vote there are two hurdles to overcome before the measure can be passed into law.

Its legality has to be reviewed by a constitutional court before it can be signed by Mr Hollande.

France becomes the latest country to approve marriage for everyone, after New Zealand and Uruguay.

A bill in the United Kingdom is progressing through Parliament. It won overwhelming support in a free vote in the House of Commons and now moves to the report stage and a third reading.

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