France to vote on gay marriage bill

French lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a controversial same-sex marriage bill that would allow gay couples the right to marry and adopt children.

France's National Assembly will vote on the draft measure, and if approved the bill must then go before the Senate. 

Ten days prior lawmakers voted 249-97 in favor of the bill's proposal to define marriage as a contract between two people, according to Reuters. If the bill is made law, it will mark a significant victory for same-sex marriage.

Opinion polls show the majority of French citizens favor same-sex marriage. President Francois Hollande pledged during his campaign last year that he would extend the right to marry and adopt to gay couples.

However, there is still a vocal opposition. In mid-January, thousands staged anti-gay marriage protests in Paris.

But Nicolas Gougain, of the Inter-LGBT pro-gay rights lobby group, told Reuters he was optimistic.

"Things are going well and quickly, which is a relief for us," Gougain said.

"We've never seen so many deputies arguing the case for equality and for the recognition of different kinds of families. We can now look forward to the remainder of the debate calmly. It's fabulous!"

Watch this great report by CNN that profiles two gay men raising two adopted children.