“The Weddings Will Be Beautiful!” France Has Approved A Law Allowing Gay Marriage

Remember these amazing scenes from New Zealand last week? Well similiar celebrations are happening in France right now as it has just become the 14th country in the world to approve a law allowing gay marriage.

The BBC reports that the new bill (which will also legalise adoption by same-sex couples) passed in the French parliament with 321 votes to 225. The decision follows major public protests to change the law in recent years.

The French president, Francois Hollande, made the new law his signature move on social reform and he’s expected to sign the new bill once it has been approved by the constitutional council.

However, opponents of the new law are expected to try and convince the constitutional council that same-sex marriage is a constitutional issue. But analysts are saying that the council is unlikely to block the new law.

There have been lots of protests regarding the topic of same-sex marriage in France

“We believe that the first [same-sex] weddings will be beautiful and that they’ll bring a breeze of joy, and that those who are opposed to them today will surely be confounded when they are overcome with the happiness of the newlyweds and the families,” said Justice Minister Christiane Taubira.

France has now become the 14th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage and the ninth country in Europe to allow gay marriage. Despite the fact that the Catholic Church was thought to have lost its influence in France, the topic of same-sex marriage still faced strong opposition.

In January, 340,000 people protested against the bill and more protests by opponents are expected in the coming days. At present thousands of police have been deployed to central Paris in preparation.

It is believed that the new law is the most important social reform in France since the death penality was abolished in 1981.