France Legalizes Same-Sex Unions
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PARIS — France on Wednesday became the largest country in Europe--and the first nominally Roman Catholic one--to legalize same-sex unions, when the Socialist-dominated National Assembly pushed through legislation creating “civil solidarity pacts.”
As a result of the 315-249 vote, unmarried French couples, including homosexuals, will be able to register their unions at courthouses for the first time next year.
The law would, among other things, let couples--after three years of stated fidelity--file tax forms together, help people bring foreign partners to France, force employers to take couples’ joint vacation plans into account and make partners accountable for each other’s debts.
Iceland, Belgium and Sweden have similar laws.
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