France’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill legalising same-sex couples to both marry and adopt, despite recent protests in Paris.

The Bill was pushed through the National Assembly by President Francois Hollande’s Socialists; it carried a vote of 329 to 229.

Although recent protests opposing the bill pulled a crowd exceeding 300,000 people, polls show that the French population are mostly in support of same-sex marriage rights. Support lessens when children are considered.

Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the French legislation, Australian Marriage Equality National Director, Rodney Croome, said ‘France’s message to Australia and the world is that the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity apply equally to same-sex couples.

Croome mentioned how France’s motion, as well as overwhelming support for same-sex marriage in the UK, highlighted how Australia was rapidly falling behind on the issue.

‘Given the romance associated with Paris I expect many Australian same-sex couples will marry under the new French law, only to return to Australia to find their solemn vow count for nothing’, he said.

Nadine Walker