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Jan. 28, 2011 / 12:11 PM

French court upholds same-sex marriage ban

Angelisa Young (R) and Sinjolya Townsend, the first gay couple to wed in the District of Columbia, kiss after they exchanged vows at their wedding ceremony at the Human Rights Campaign building in Washington on March 9, 2010. In December 2009, the DC Council approved a bill that would allow for same-sex marriages to be performed in the District. Today, same-sex couples were able to obtain marriage licenses they applied for last week and proceed with wedding ceremonies. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn

Angelisa Young (R) and Sinjolya Townsend, the first gay couple to wed in the District of Columbia, kiss after they exchanged vows at their wedding ceremony at the Human Rights Campaign building in Washington on March 9, 2010. In December 2009, the DC Council approved a bill that would allow for same-sex marriages to be performed in the District. Today, same-sex couples were able to obtain marriage licenses they applied for last week and proceed with wedding ceremonies. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn | License Photo

PARIS, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A ban on same-sex marriages has been upheld by the French constitutional court, which held the ban was within the country's constitution.

Gay rights activists had hoped France would join other European countries in legalizing same-sex marriage, and a opinion poll indicated most French favor same-sex marriage, the BBC reported Friday.

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While many European nations recognize same-sex civil unions, only Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Norway and Iceland recognize same-sex marriage.

The Constitutional Council heard the matter on a challenge by a lesbian couple.

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