PARIS, May 18 - French President Francois Hollande signed the bill on gay marriage into law on Saturday after it was approved by the Constitutional Council on Friday, the president's office announced.By legalizing the same-sex marriage, Hollande has successfully delivered one of his major campaign pledges, shifting the "marriage for all" from dream to reality.
The Socialist head of state hailed the birth of the law. Commending its validation by the Constitutional Council on Friday afternoon, Hollande said "it is time to respect the law of the Republic."
The controversial law has taken tens of thousands of French citizen, mainly the right-wingers and religious groups, to the street to protest against it for months.
But the opponents failed in their challenge against the law due to the ruling by the Constitutional Council. Anyhow, the opponents vowed to fight on, announcing to stage a new round of street protest on May 26 to show their absolute discontent with the law.
Supporters, on the other hand, cheerfully embraced the new law. Local media reports said the first gay wedding could be expected on May 29, officially chaired by the mayor of France's southern town of Montpellier.
