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France Gays

French lawmakers voted to legalize same-sex marriage today despite vocal protests from some conservatives opposed to the step.

The nation's lower house, the National Assembly, approved a marriage bill, which will also give same-sex couples the right to adopt, in a 331-225 final vote. The legislation was approved in the Senate earlier this month.

President Francois Hollande, who pledged his support for same-sex marriage on the campaign trail last year, will have to sign the bill before it becomes law.

Opponents, including the Roman Catholic Church, other religious groups and social conservatives, still hope to block the measure by filing a legal challenge with the Constitutional Council. It would have a month to make its ruling.

Once the measure is enacted, France will be the ninth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage. Ref. CNN

Gays France

Violence erupts at gay marriage march

Several hundred thousand opponents of same-sex marriage have marched in central Paris against a reform the unpopular French government passed last month at the price of deepening political polarisation. Ref. Source 1