Senate Voted to Approve Section 1 of Same-Sex Marriage Bill
After ten hours of debate, the socialist-controlled Senate, the upper house of the French parliament, on April 9, 2013, approved the most crucial article of a draft law that would legalize same-sex marriage in France. Article 1 removes opposite gender as a condition of the right to marriage and was adopted by a vote of 179 to 157. This article was approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament run by Socialists, on February 2nd, but 5,000 anti-gay marriage amendments were added to it to slow down the passage of the legislation. By a vote of 329 to 229, the entire bill won approval on February 12, 2013.
Future Votes in Senate
The Senate is now poised to vote on the rest of the many amendments, one by one, including adoption rights for same-sex couples before sending the entire bill back for final approval to the National Assembly. The passing of Article 1 was considered to be the legislation’s biggest hurtle and almost guarantees that gay couples will be able to marry by June. Unless the entire bill is rejected after consideration by the Senate, it will become final, and not be subjected to a second reading in the National Assembly or the CMP (Mixed Commission).
Majority in Favor of Gay Marriage
Although most polls show support for gay marriage, for the past six months, hundreds of thousands have participated in demonstrations in opposition of marriage equality in this Catholic country. Most of the anti-gay factions are backed by conservative religious institutions, which claim that the legislation will create psychological and social problems for children.
If the legislation passes, France will become the latest country – sixteen in four continents – to have legal same-sex marriage. President Francois Hollande has already said he will sign the law. Hollande campaigned in favor of same-sex marriage and adoption last year.
