France to pass marriage equality and adoption for same-sex couples

France’s new Socialist government is to legalize marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (pic) declared, reflecting a shift in public attitudes in the majority Catholic nation. “The government has made it an objective for the next few months to work on implementing its…fight against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Ayrault’s office said in a statement.

A law granting full marriage status to gay couples would bring France into line with fellow EU members Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. In France, 60 percent support marriage equality. A majority also favor allowing gay couples to adopt children.

[via REUTERS]