François Hollande of the French Socialist Party has won the closely fought presidential campaign with just under 52% of the vote, ousting Nicolas Sarkozy.  However, lets take a little look at what that might mean for thousands of LGBTs in the country?  Well, the Socialists have been supportive of not only marriage equality but also gay adoption, with Hollande himself publicly in favour of both.

The Gay Star News reported yesterday that on his website, during the campaign, Hollande had the quote

Freedom is the ability to let two people in love, regardless of their sexual orientation to unite… Equality is to allow any couple to use the same device without legal discrimination

This has now been removed from the site and replaced with an understandable “Merci” but it bodes well for same sex couples throughout the nation.

However, French couples can’t quite start celebrating just yet, lets not forget that it was only last year when the parliament rejected a same sex marriage law 293 votes to 222.  This law was proposed by the Socialists but if they wish to get it passed now, they must win big in next months parliamentary elections.  We must also remember the 18.1% of the vote obtained by the far right National Front, whose leader is quoted as saying

I am totally opposed to gay marriage and I think that only a minority are for it anyway…Gay pride events with its parades are, as a general rule, provocations against other people, notably Catholics

So much work is still needed, however Hollande’s victory is a definitive move in the right direction.

We have seen marriage equality hit the headlines in a few places worldwide this week. North Carolina votes today on amendment one and US vice president Joe Biden said last Sunday that he’s “comfortable” with marriage equality so lets hope this election in France proves to be the first move in granting equal marriage rights to LGBTs in France and that over in the US they see sense and defeat amendment one.  Each of these could prove a positive move bringing us all nearer equality but much still hangs in the balance.