French Assembly passes gay marriage, adoption bill

France's lower house of parliament has approved a sweeping bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

President Francois Hollande's Socialists have pushed the measure through the National Assembly and put France on track to join about a dozen, mostly European nations that grant marriage and adoption rights to homosexuals. Polls show most French support legalizing gay marriage, though that backing softens when children come into play. (AP)