‘Vive la France!’ as campaigners celebrate equal marriage victory

Christiane Taubira (Photo: Flickr, author, Parti Socialste)


Campaigners are celebrating the news that France has become the 14th nation in the world to legalise marriage rights for same-sex couples and Justice Minister Christiane Taubira says the first weddings could be held as soon as June.

France’s National Assembly in Paris passed the country’s equal marriage bill on Tuesday afternoon. MPs voted 331 in favour – 225 against – with 10 abstentions.

The legislation, which also provides adoption rights for same-sex couples, is expected to be approved by the Constitutional Council and signed into law by President Francois Hollande, who made it a manifesto pledge.

The result was greeted by wild cheering from supporters and boos by some opponents gathered outside the National Assembly.

“I hope people across the country will celebrate this moment,” said equal marriage campaigner Martin Gaillard.

“It is a generous text that you’ve voted for today,” Justice Minister Christiane Taubira told legislators on Tuesday evening, calling the law a “very beautiful reform.”

Evelyne Paradis, executive director of ILGA-Europe, said: “We congratulate the French parliamentarians and the French nation for this historic step. The country whose motto is ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’ has finally fully applied it to all citizens when it comes to marriage.

“We also hope that this latest development in France will inspire other European countries to take concrete steps to eliminate discrimination and to ensure equal rights to same-sex partners and their families.

“Equality cannot be partial, if a country is serious about equality for same-sex partners and their families, it means removing all legal obstacles and differences, it means equal access to marriage and adoption entitlement.”

Scotland’s Equality Network tweeted: “Hoping to see the Scottish equal marriage bill in our Parliament by end of June. Let’s ensure it passes, in the spirit of the Auld Alliance!”

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell tweeted: “France agreed same-sex marriage today. It’s the third country in 3 weeks, after Uruguay & New Zealand. An unstoppable global trend. Bravo!

Earlier this month, both Uruguay and New Zealand passed marriage equality bills.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/04/23/vive-la-france-as-campaigners-celebrate-equal-marriage-victory/

....Another great day for freedom and liberty!...And indeed this march is unstoppable!

Yep good news Phil!

vills wrote:Yep good news Phil!

In a few years time and especially with the attitudes of the youth around the world...They will look back and say why did it take them so long!

...I was reading a news article made by Bill Clinton earlier and he was saying that his daughter(Chelsea) had a profound impact on changing his views over gay marriage...She used to invite her gay friends over for thanks giving...and they had long conversations about it apparently!

Times have moved quickly...it wasn't that long ago that being male, gay and sexually active was against the law and could result in a prison sentence or even worse barbaric medical treatment.

I celebrate the news.

Syl wrote:Times have moved quickly...it wasn't that long ago that being male, gay and sexually active was against the law and could result in a prison sentence or even worse barbaric medical treatment.

I celebrate the news.

Exactly!

.....The thing that i can't understand is that Spain and Argentina are quite religious countries and they already have gay marriage!

Do you see problems arising in the future with gay equality and religion Phil?

For eg here...we have an ever growing Muslim section of society, we are a Christian country....but the majority of us are lapsed....so inevitably another faith will be more predominant in years to come.
I cant see Muslims being so embracing as to allow gay marriage, can you see a two tiered society developing between gays of different faiths in this country the future?

Syl wrote:Do you see problems arising in the future with gay equality and religion Phil?

For eg here...we have an ever growing Muslim section of society, we are a Christian country....but the majority of us are lapsed....so inevitably another faith will be more predominant in years to come.
I cant see Muslims being so embracing as to allow gay marriage, can you see a two tiered society developing between gays of different faiths in this country the future?

I don't see a problem with the Muslim population of this country tbf ( )...I have educated myself and changed my views over time!...They make up about 3% of our overall population and the equality act means that all religious beliefs will never be able to trump our secular laws!

No religious organisation is being forced to conduct a gay marriage...And if any religious organisation was forced to conduct a gay marriage then i would be completely against that!

...Just to add!

There has been a war going on between religion and the gay community..They didn't even want us to have an equal age of consent and have held up all of the equality legislation over years and years!

....But it's the Christians in this country that have always stood in the way of the march to full equality!

Yes I agree...every church should be free to choose.

However I do see a problem could arise if a westernised Muslim (for eg) wanted to marry a gay partner and his church forbade that....one section of society could be married simply because his church held different views and another would not be allowed to marry unless he changed faith which would be very hard to do for some.
I cant see the Muslim faith relenting in their beliefs anytime soon.

Syl wrote:Yes I agree...every church should be free to choose.

However I do see a problem could arise if a westernised Muslim (for eg) wanted to marry a gay partner and his church forbade that....one section of society could be married simply because his church held different views and another would not be allowed to marry unless he changed faith which would be very hard to do for some.
I cant see the Muslim faith relenting in their beliefs anytime soon.

...Well that is a matter for Islam and the Muslims to address amongst themselves!...As i have said i don't agree with imposing gay marriage on any religious institution and only the religious institutions that want to conduct a gay marriage should be able to do that!

....To a gay Muslim i would suggest that they change their religious beliefs and join a more progressive religion like the progressive Jews! ...Because they are one of the religious organisations in favour of conducting gay marriages!

.....I would also like to say again that i can't understand why any gay person would want to get married in a bloody church anyway!

.....They are as mad as jumping box of frogs!

...But in the name of equality i would defend their right to be as mad as a jumping box of frogs!

LOL

I guess in the future some will stillLhave to choose between religion and love....just like in the past.
I remember the days when it was decidedly frowned upon for a Jew to marry a Christian...a Catholic a Protestant etc....maybe one day everyone wil be free to NOT have to choose....not in our lifetime though I suspect.

philagain wrote:.....I would also like to say again that i can't understand why any gay person would want to get married in a bloody church anyway!

.....They are as mad as jumping box of frogs!

...But in the name of equality i would defend their right to be as mad as a jumping box of frogs!

LOL

I was happy to marry in a registry office....but each to their own.

My personal tribute to France

Syl wrote:

philagain wrote:.....I would also like to say again that i can't understand why any gay person would want to get married in a bloody church anyway!

.....They are as mad as jumping box of frogs!

...But in the name of equality i would defend their right to be as mad as a jumping box of frogs!

LOL

I was happy to marry in a registry office....but each to their own.

...I wouldn't even want a civil partnership as my love for my partner doesn't need a bit of paper to make it more valid!

I dont see marriage as a bit of paper though, I see it as a commitment. I know you can be equally commited without, but for me, especially as I wanted a family, it seemed the right thing to do.

But by far the most important thing is...as we have both said, is the freedom to choose, and thankfully more people are now getting that freedom. x

Syl wrote:I dont see marriage as a bit of paper though, I see it as a commitment. I know you can be equally commited without, but for me, especially as I wanted a family, it seemed the right thing to do.

But by far the most important thing is...as we have both said, is the freedom to choose, and thankfully more people are now getting that freedom. x

Yeah...I can see your point there and your own personal choice!

Night Phil. x

Syl wrote:Night Phil. x

Night mate

x

'Marriage' in this day and age.
What a load of Romantic, old fashioned crap.
'jus' sayin' like.
The World as got a lot worse problems than wasting time with a few people that want to pretend to be 'Mummy and Daddy'.
I am not a Homophobe but think that it is ridiculous.

Ravy wrote:'Marriage' in this day and age.
What a load of Romantic, old fashioned crap.
'jus' sayin' like.
The World as got a lot worse problems than wasting time with a few people that want to pretend to be 'Mummy and Daddy'.
I am not a Homophobe but think that it is ridiculous.

Some people enjoy "romantic, old fashioned crap". Where's the harm?

It wastes too much Political time when there are many more problems to worry about.
What is more important?
The Gay marriage issue or kicking out Terrorists?
If people want to get married because it is 'Romantic and old fashioned' let them.
I have no problem with it but it goes deeper.
Adopting cildren for example.
Here I am Old fashioned.
1 Man plus 1 Woman = children.
Many people agree with me so I don't have to justify my opinion.

Ravy wrote:It wastes too much Political time when there are many more problems to worry about.
What is more important?
The Gay marriage issue or kicking out Terrorists?
If people want to get married because it is 'Romantic and old fashioned' let them.
I have no problem with it but it goes deeper.
Adopting cildren for example.
Here I am Old fashioned.
1 Man plus 1 Woman = children.
Many people agree with me so I don't have to justify my opinion.

Our legislatures are more than capable of dealing with both gay marriage and terrorism, as this case demonstrates.

As to the rest of your argument, agreement with your opinion does not make it incontestable - or even correct.