Thanks for following us and apologies for the technical glitches. You can read a round up the day's events here and join us tomorrow for more reaction to France becoming the 14th country to legalise gay marriage.
19:00 Live blog ended
18:35 The celebrations begin: It will be a lively night in the Marais tonight, the home of Paris's gay community.
18:26 Contrasting emotions after the vote: Anti gay marriage campaigners will hold a protest tonight at 7pm meanwhile across town in Place Baudoyer (4th arrondissement) the pro-gay marriage campaigners will be cracking open the champagne.
18:19 More reaction from those happy with the result of today's historic vote:
"This is a victory for equality, democracy and co-existence. This law does not take away any rights to anyone but gives them to others. This is a freedom after years of mobilization for equality, "said the spokesman for Inter-LGBT
18:15 Opponents of gay marriage have vowed to protest tonight after parliament passed the bill. Our reporter Dan MacGuill who is outside parliament says there is definite tension in the air.
Riot police have blocked rue aristide briand, east entrance, entirely. Sporadic shouting matches on street. Definite tension #gaymarriage
— The Local (@TheLocalFrance) April 23, 2013
18:12 More reaction from the victim of a recent homophobic beating in Paris
Wilfred de Brujn, a gay man badly beaten in Paris earlier this month, says "a law doesn't change society, but I am very happy." #gaymarriage
— The Local (@TheLocalFrance) April 23, 2013
18:09 More from Justice Minister Christiane Taubira immediately hailed the adoption of the bill as a "historic" moment in French history.
"It grants new rights, stands firmly against discrimination (and) testifies to our country's respect for the institution of marriage," she said in a statement shortly after the vote.
"This law… brightens the horizons of many of our citizens who were deprived of these rights," she said.
Our reporter Dan MacGuill is outside the French parliament getting reaction to the passing of the bill.
Juan, 51, from Paris, on homophobia: "I love kissing my man on the metro, but I don't do it, because I know I could be stabbed" #gaymarriage
— The Local (@TheLocalFrance) April 23, 2013
18:10 – Ofcourse Tuesday is a historic day but it might not quite be over. Shortly after the vote, lawmakers from right-wing parties said they had already filed a legal challenge with the constitutional council.
It will have a month to make a ruling and opponents are hoping that in the meantime they can build up enough pressure to force Hollande, who has been steadfast in supporting the bill, to back down from signing it.
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