There have been massive protests in France against the Bill, and counter-protests like this one. France’s Senate has reportedly passed a section of a Bill which will allow gay couples to marry. The first article of the Bill has been passed by 179 votes to 157, according to AFP. This vote becomes final unless the entire bill is rejected after further consideration by the Senate. The French Senate must now discuss the second article of the bill, which is adoption for same-sex couples. If it agrees, the Bill will go to President François Hollande to be signed into law. “The adoption of this article by a vote of the entire Senate majority puts an end to the discrimination that resulted from sexual choices of citizens,” François Rebsamen of the Socialist has said. “Given the abuses that took place either by manifestations of violence in the street, either by verbal excesses in the chamber, the vote on this article marks a victory for the fight against homophobia, tolerance and the of democracy.” The news comes after a gay couple were badly beaten in Paris on Saturday, in an incident which campaigners say is symptomatic of a 30 per cent rise in homophobic attacks in France since debates on same-sex marriage began.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 10th April 2013 - 2:00pm