People gather demonstration in support of same-sex marriage bill in Marseille, April 23, 2013. (Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier)
May 18, 2013
French President Francois Hollande signed the country's same-sex marriage and adoption bill into law on Saturday, almost one month after its passage in Parliament that prompted a legal challenge in the country's Constitutional Council by the conservative opposition.
The Constitutional Council threw out the challenge on Friday, opening the gate for Hollande's signature.
Friday also marked the International Day Against Homophobia.
France is now the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Agence France-Pressereports:
Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalizes gay adoption.
But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.
Hollande made "marriage for all" a central plank of his presidential election campaign last year.
On Friday, he tried to turn the page on months of bitter opposition to the measures, arguing it was "time to respect the law and the Republic".
And he warned that he would tolerate no resistance.
"I will ensure that the law applies across the whole territory, in full, and I will not accept any disruption of these marriages," said the president.
The Socialist mayor of the southern French city of Montpellier will officiate the municipality's first gay marriage on May 29, her office said on Saturday, in what is also expected to be the country's first.
_______________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
French President Francois Hollande signed the country's same-sex marriage and adoption bill into law on Saturday, almost one month after its passage in Parliament that prompted a legal challenge in the country's Constitutional Council by the conservative opposition.
The Constitutional Council threw out the challenge on Friday, opening the gate for Hollande's signature.
Friday also marked the International Day Against Homophobia.
France is now the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Agence France-Pressereports:
Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalizes gay adoption.
But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.
Hollande made "marriage for all" a central plank of his presidential election campaign last year.
On Friday, he tried to turn the page on months of bitter opposition to the measures, arguing it was "time to respect the law and the Republic".
And he warned that he would tolerate no resistance.
"I will ensure that the law applies across the whole territory, in full, and I will not accept any disruption of these marriages," said the president.
The Socialist mayor of the southern French city of Montpellier will officiate the municipality's first gay marriage on May 29, her office said on Saturday, in what is also expected to be the country's first.
_______________________
French President Francois Hollande signed the country's same-sex marriage and adoption bill into law on Saturday, almost one month after its passage in Parliament that prompted a legal challenge in the country's Constitutional Council by the conservative opposition.
The Constitutional Council threw out the challenge on Friday, opening the gate for Hollande's signature.
Friday also marked the International Day Against Homophobia.
France is now the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Agence France-Pressereports:
Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalizes gay adoption.
But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.
Hollande made "marriage for all" a central plank of his presidential election campaign last year.
On Friday, he tried to turn the page on months of bitter opposition to the measures, arguing it was "time to respect the law and the Republic".
And he warned that he would tolerate no resistance.
"I will ensure that the law applies across the whole territory, in full, and I will not accept any disruption of these marriages," said the president.
The Socialist mayor of the southern French city of Montpellier will officiate the municipality's first gay marriage on May 29, her office said on Saturday, in what is also expected to be the country's first.
_______________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.