The French Senate has approved adoption for same-sex couples.

On the evening of 10 April, the second article of the ‘Marriage for All’ bill was adopted by the upper level of French parliament.

The vote came just one day after the Senate approved Article 1, the provision allowing gay couples to marry.

The Senate must now complete a review of the legislation in its entirety, although passage of both articles almost guarantees gay couples will soon be able to marry and adopt in France.

Once approved, the bill will go back to the National Assembly in late May for final approval. It will then go to the French President FranÃ§ois Hollande to sign into law.

During the debate, center-right politician Gerard Roche said adopting the bill would pave the way for medically assisted procreation and surrogacy for gay couples as ‘there are not enough adoptable children.’

A bill legalizing medically assisted procreation and surrocagy for gay couples is expected later in the year.

Last night, around 5,000 people came together to protest against homophobic violence, which has escalated due to the widespread protests for and against marriage equality and adoptions for gay couples.

On 26 May, the anti-gay group Manif Pour Tous has announced it will stage another massive rally in a last-ditch effort to demand the bill’s withdrawal and call for a national referendum.