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| France's parliament approve gay marriage article | France's parliament approve gay marriage article |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The French National Assembly has approved the most important article of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. | The French National Assembly has approved the most important article of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. |
| Deputies voted 249-97 in favour of redefining marriage as being an agreement between two people - not just between a man and a woman. | Deputies voted 249-97 in favour of redefining marriage as being an agreement between two people - not just between a man and a woman. |
| President Francois Hollande's Socialists and their left-wing supporters backed it, opposed by many opposition UMP and centrist MPs. | |
| The proposals have generated protests and counter-protests for months. | The proposals have generated protests and counter-protests for months. |
| Opinion polls suggest that around 55-60% of French people support gay marriage, though only about 50% approve of gay adoption. | Opinion polls suggest that around 55-60% of French people support gay marriage, though only about 50% approve of gay adoption. |
| Correspondents say the ease with which the article passed suggests the bill as a whole will pass. | |
| Debates are expected to go on for more than a week, as MPs discuss hundreds of amendments, most of them filed by the centre-right opposition. | |
| On the way they are expected to approve the other key measure in the bill, which would allow gay couples to adopt children. | |
| 'Freedom to choose' | |
| The bill marks one of France's biggest social reforms since the abolition of the death penalty in 1981. | |
| "We are happy and proud to have taken this first step," Justice Minister Christiane Taubira said. | |
| "We are going to establish the freedom for everyone to choose his or her partner for a future together." | |
| UMP MP Philippe Gosselin said the legislation was only the beginning of a trend that the French people did not want. | |
| "Today it is marriage and adoption. Tomorrow it will be medically assisted conception and surrogate mothers." | |
| It is expected that the legislation will reach the statue books by the middle of the year, AFP reports. | It is expected that the legislation will reach the statue books by the middle of the year, AFP reports. |
| In September last year, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Lyon, argued that plans to redefine the concept of marriage would open the door to incest and polygamy. | In September last year, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Lyon, argued that plans to redefine the concept of marriage would open the door to incest and polygamy. |
| The debate in the National Assembly is due to last throughout the weekend. | The debate in the National Assembly is due to last throughout the weekend. |