Paris, May 18 (EFE).- French President François Hollande signed a gay marriage bill into law on Saturday, bringing the country's first same-sex weddings closer to reality. The legislation signed by the Socialist head of state was published in the Official Gazette a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a challenge by the center-right Union for a Popular Movement party. Opponents of the bill, which parliament passed last month, had organized large demonstrations in recent months and said they would stage a new mass protest on May 26.

France on Saturday became the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage after President Francois Hollande signed the measure into law following months of bitter political debate. Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalises gay adoption. But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.

French President Francois Hollande was set to sign a gay marriage and adoption bill into law Saturday after it was cleared by the Constitutional Council which turned down a challenge by the right-wing opposition. Hollande, who had made "marriage for all" a key election pledge, made the announcement saying it was "now time to respect the law and the Republic" after the top French institution cleared the bill. The first gay wedding can be held 10 days after Hollande signs it into law.

Portugal's parliament Friday adopted legislation allowing individuals in a gay marriage or partnership to apply to adopt each other's children. Coinciding with International Day Against Homophobia, the bill leapt its first hurdle by passing a first reading with 99 votes in favour, 94 against and nine abstentions. It won support from the opposition Socialist Party and the extreme left along with 16 members of Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho's centre-right Social Democrats.