REACTION: France Passes Equal Rights Legislation

Tuesday was the finale of an 8-month battle for equality

"For some it should have come sooner, but now it has arrived" proclaimed Jean-Christophe Testu, president of the LGBT center, Le Girofard in Bordeaux, France before a crowd of excited, emotional and relieved supporters of LGBT rights.

It's been a long and grueling road to pave for LGBT activists in the country, starting back on the 8th November 2012 and ending on Tuesday 23rd April 2013.

Tears were shed, cheers were heard and emotion filled the air in the small room of the center as onlookers watched the final vote at the National Assembly live.

"Not everything will be fixed by this law" said Paul Vinot, president of the LGP (Lesbian and Gay Pride Bordeaux). It's a bill which has cut the country in two these last few months, and the divide is still visible now, even after the bill having been passed. For the opposition, it's the penultimate stage and they still carry the hope that left-wing president François Hollande can be dissuaded from signing it into law - unlikely since it's one of the main points in his political program.

Right-wing opponents are more present than ever in the opposition camp and are becoming more and more violent. The escalating homophobia in the country has been amplified even more in anti-equality protests and before the media, with the GUD, a Christian extremist right-wing youth group, calling on their supporters to "beat up the homos" at this year's Gay Prides. The country is suffering a sort of "War of the Associations" with the NPA (New Anti-capitalist Party) offering to protect gay rights demonstrations and gay prides in many of the major cities.

For the opposition, the new is devastating. On Tuesday night, Civitas, a radical Christian group, often using slogans such as "France needs children, not homosexuals!", organised a candlelit vigil "in remembrance of the family" and then on Wednesday night, like every other rational-thinking person (sarcasm intended) they burnt a coffin to pass the message that "the institution of the family is dead".

Spokesperson for the opposition, Virginie Tellenne (aka Frigide Barjot) sighs desperately after the vote in favour of equal rights

Meanwhile, in Bordeaux, supporters of LGBT rights took to the streets to party in celebration of no longer being considered as second-class citizens. For many, talking about marriage equality seemed to be an everyday occurrence and the words stopped carrying a lot of emotions until Tuesday, when finally marriage equality became more than just two words; it became a reality.

"In May 2002, during a demonstration, I turned to my partner and said 'and what if we had a child to change the world?'" said a lesbian parent of two. "We'll have the chance like every other citizen, to marry and adopt" continued Vinot. "It's a shame such a large part of the French population protested with such violence" said Testu, "and we need to use the 17th May [IDAHO] and the 8th June [Gay Pride Bordeaux] to help everyone live together but for the moment, let's celebrate!".

"Long live the married!" an onlooker cried.

Explosions of joy were everywhere on Tuesday