This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/07/french-government-same-sex-marriage

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
French government approves introduction of same-sex marriage French government approves introduction of same-sex marriage
(about 2 hours later)
Plans to introduce gay marriage and adoption rights have been approved by France amid growing protest from the French right and religious leaders.
Plans to introduce gay marriage and adoption rights have been approved by France's government amid growing protest from the French right and religious leaders. François Hollande, the Socialist president, had made same-sex marriage and adoption a cornerstone of his election campaign, promising a law before mid-2013.
François Hollande, the Socialist president, had made same-sex marriage and adoption a cornerstone of his election campaign, promising a law before mid-2013. The draft legislation goes before parliament in January. The draft legislation goes before parliament in January.
France would become the 12th country to introduce legalise gay marriage – after others such as Canada, South Africa, Spain and Portugal. But with 60 million people it would be the biggest in terms of economic and diplomatic influence. France would become the 12th country to legalise gay marriage – after others such as Canada, South Africa, Spain and Portugal. But with 60 million people it would be the biggest in terms of economic and diplomatic influence.
"This would be progress not just for the few, but for our whole society," Hollande told the cabinet meeting, the government spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "This would be progress not just for the few, but for our whole society," Hollande told the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
But the plans have proved more divisive than he and the left had hoped. Amid a conservative backlash, Catholic church protests and political squabbling, draft legislation has been slightly delayed and, some gay activists argue, watered down.But the plans have proved more divisive than he and the left had hoped. Amid a conservative backlash, Catholic church protests and political squabbling, draft legislation has been slightly delayed and, some gay activists argue, watered down.
The new law would allow marriage for all, regardless of sexual orientation. This means homosexual couples – who have had the right to civil partnerships since 1999 – could, through marriage, take their partners' name and gain automatic inheritance and pension rights. The new law allows marriage for all, regardless of sexual orientation. This would means gay couples – who have had the right to civil partnerships since 1999 – could, through marriage, take their partner's name and gain inheritance and pension rights. Adoption would also become legal for married same-sex couples. This is significant in allowing gay partners to adopt children they are currently co-parenting. Under French law, unmarried partners – irrespective of sexual orientation – will not be able to adopt.
Adoption would also become legal for married same-sex couples. This is significant in allowing gay partners to adopt children they are currently co-parenting. Under French law, unmarried partners – irrespective of sexual orientation – will not be able to adopt.
The law would also scrap all use of "mother" and "father" in the French legal code, replacing that gender distinction with the word "parent".The law would also scrap all use of "mother" and "father" in the French legal code, replacing that gender distinction with the word "parent".
But rights' campaigners have complained that a key element will not be included: the right to medically assisted conception for gay couples, for example a lesbian couple seeking IVF. The prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, has suggested an amendment can be added later, but some in the Socialist party want procreation rights to be granted straight away, as well as legal recognition of children born to surrogate mothers outside France, where the practice is illegal. But rights campaigners have complained that a key element will not be included: the right to medically assisted conception for gay couples, for example a lesbian couple seeking IVF. The prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, has suggested an amendment can be added later, but some in the Socialist party want procreation rights to be granted straight away, as well as legal recognition of children born to surrogate mothers outside France, where the practice is illegal.
The latest Ifop poll for the French newspaper Le Monde showed 65% of French people back same-sex marriage, but parenting rights are more divisive, with 52% in favour of gay couples adopting.The latest Ifop poll for the French newspaper Le Monde showed 65% of French people back same-sex marriage, but parenting rights are more divisive, with 52% in favour of gay couples adopting.
The Catholic church in France – a secular republic where mass-going has plummeted in recent years – has stepped up its opposition. Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, the archbishop of Paris, warned that gay marriage was a sham that would "shake one of the foundations of our society". The Catholic church in France – a secular republic where attendance at mass has plummeted in recent years – has stepped up its opposition. Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, the archbishop of Paris, warned that gay marriage was a sham that would "shake one of the foundations of our society".
Jewish leaders and other religious groups have also criticised the plans, although the main representative body of the Muslim faith, the French Muslim Council, said that while gay marriage was not in Islamic teaching, religious rules could not hold sway over the laws of secular France.Jewish leaders and other religious groups have also criticised the plans, although the main representative body of the Muslim faith, the French Muslim Council, said that while gay marriage was not in Islamic teaching, religious rules could not hold sway over the laws of secular France.
Key figures in Nicolas Sarkozy's rightwing UMP party warned they would repeal the law if they returned to power. The far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for a referendum. The UMP senator Serge Dassault told French Radio that same-sex marriage and adoption would be "the end of the family, the end of children's development, the end of education. It's an enormous danger to the nation." Key figures in Nicolas Sarkozy's rightwing UMP party warned they would repeal the law if they returned to power. The far right leader Marine Le Pen called for a referendum. The UMP senator Serge Dassault told French Radio that same-sex marriage and adoption would be "the end of the family, the end of children's development, the end of education. It's an enormous danger to the nation."
One local mayor was roundly criticised earlier this year after he warned legalising gay marriage would open the way to legalising polygamy or incest.One local mayor was roundly criticised earlier this year after he warned legalising gay marriage would open the way to legalising polygamy or incest.