France Almost Certain To Adopt Marriage Equality

In an address on Saturday to fellow members of his Socialist Party, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: 

In October, we will send a bill to the National Assembly and the Senate to allow same-sex couples to marry. It would also allow them to form families and adopt children.

In so stating, Prime Minister Ayrault keeps a promise made by President Francois Hollande, who's stumped for full marriage equality since his run against Nicholas Sarkozy. (Sarkozy never did support full equality, even when trying to woo back the gays he'd lost to Hollande.) And he's keeping that promise ahead of schedule: Marriage, said Hollande during the campaign, would be a priority of his government in 2013.

With the Socialist president and Socialist prime minister in agreement, a bill legislating marriage equality will pass to the National Assembly and the Senate. The former's controlled by the Socialists. The latter has a left-wing majority. Paris is about to get a lot more romantic.

French Prime Minister Vows to Implement Marriage Equality and Equal Adoption Rights for Gay People

Newly-elected President François Hollande’s pledge to enact marriage equality is being pushed by his Prime Minister, Pink News reports:

A communiqué issued by the office of the prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who took office on 15 May, marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia yesterday with a pledge to put the president’s manifesto promise into law.

It said: “On the occasion of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment against violence and discrimination perpetrated as a result of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The Government is determined to challenge prejudice and to put an end to discrimination and violence. It will implement the commitment of the President of the Republic to the right to marriage and adoption to gay couples.”

France's parliament rejected same-sex marriage last June in a 293-222 vote.