french flag marriage equality

France’s lower house of parliament approved a bill to legally recognize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children today.

The measure was approved in the National Assembly in a 329 to 229 vote. If it is passed in the Senate as it is expected to, France will be on track to join about a dozen mostly European nations that legally recognize gay marriage, including Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Spain as well as Argentina, Canada and South Africa.

“This law is a first necessary step, a social evolution that benefits society overall,” said Socialist representative Corinne Narassiguin. “Opening up marriage and adoption to homosexual couples is a very beautiful advance … It is an emblematic vote, a vote that will mark history.”

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