Witness France's first gay marriage



MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — In a historic ceremony broadcast live on French television, the first gay couple to marry in France said "oui," then sealed the deal with a lengthy and very public kiss.

Hundreds of invited guests including a government minister gathered for the moving ceremony Wednesday inside city hall in southern French city of Montpellier. Hundreds more flocked to the square outside the building as Vincent Autin, 40, and his 30-year-old partner, Bruno Boileau, were wed.

The politically charged ceremony was held under tight police surveillance — a stark reminder of the months of bruising opposition to the new gay marriage law that French lawmakers passed earlier this month.

Although the marriage itself went undisrupted, outside the city hall it was not trouble-free. A plainclothes policeman dragged back one protester on Wednesday who shouted threats and tried to approach the couple as they were being escorted into the building, before the ceremony. Police also used tear gas to push back a small group of demonstrators who gathered behind the city hall.

"Even if we have passed the hurdle of equality, there are still more battles to fight... But for now, it's a moment for festivity, for love," Autin said after exchanging vows. Some cried, others smiled as Frank Sinatra's hit "Love and Marriage" blasted out, marking them tying the knot.

The two men then walked hand-in-hand to the city hall balcony to wave to well-wishers alongside Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux, who officiated at the ceremony. Smiling proudly, Mandroux called the marriage a "historic moment" and "a stage in the modernization of our country."

The two men, who will adopt the names "Messieurs Bruno et Vincent Boileau-Autin," were holding a separate, private ceremony later Wednesday for close friends and family.

"Many people have been waiting for this law on marriage and adoption. Now, it's done. Many people are going to be doing as we did, and celebrating their unions... We are very pleased and honored," said Boileau.

It is not clear yet when the first gay adoption will take place.

News of the marriage will not be welcomed in every corner of France. Just last Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested fiercely in Paris against the new gay marriage law, demonstrations that ended with riot police shooting tear gas.



A plan to legalize same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt was a liberal cornerstone of Socialist Francois Hollande's election manifesto last year. It initially looked like a shoo-in for the French president — since the measures were supported by a majority of the country — and an easy way to break with his conservative predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

But the issue became a touchstone as Hollande's popularity sunk to unprecedented lows, largely over France's ailing economy. The law became a political hot potato that exposed bitter divisions between urban France, where homosexuality is widely accepted, and the Catholic heartland where conservative attitudes hold sway.

"What happened in our country to create so many divisions?" Mandroux said Wednesday, reflecting on the wrenching debate.
Demonstrations against the gay marriage law have often spilled into violence.

In Sunday's protest in the French capital, several hundred protesters clashed with police, throwing bottles and chasing journalists. Interior Minister Manuel Valls said police arrested some 100 far-right protesters.



Paris police estimated that 150,000 people took part in the demonstration but march organizers claimed on their Twitter account that more than a million people did.

At the same time Sunday, on the shores of the Mediterranean, the prestigious 66th Cannes Film Festival gave the Palme d'Or, its top honor, to "Blue is the Warmest Color: The Life of Adele," a graphic French film about a tender, sensual lesbian romance.

France is the 14th country so far — and the biggest in political and economic weight — to recognize gay marriage.

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This is a white disease! Pathetic, miserable fools! I wonder the despicable chemistry between two men! They want to change the truth of God into a lie.

Hmnn na wah ooo

Jesus Christ of Akwa ibom!

Awww the passion is so obvious I wish them well.

Their goverment is buzy leggalizing this shit, instead of considering opening a rehabilitation home for them.

I don't know who is more sick between mad men and gays. smh

Wow.love is love irrespective of gender.I noticed during the same sex marriage prohibition debate in the nigerian congress,how some members were quick to support the motion that gays are psychologically incompetent.if so,why clamour for a jail term of over fourteen years.
Which is worse,a man gulping down pension of elderly people,about 23billion denieing them their source of livelihood and means of survival being,who at the end of the day gets a minimal jail term and option of fine.and yet you deem it fit to send two individuals to jail for expressing their intimate believes,which you don't have concrete evidence to why you don't support their lifestyles except your religious hypocrisy.its a dream come true in france as freedom of expression is not trampled upon no matter ur sexual orientation.thumbs up france.

This is so cool, me likey

Hezron Lorraine: Wow.love is love irrespective of gender.I noticed during the same sex marriage prohibition debate in the nigerian congress,how some members were quick to support the motion that gays are psychologically incompetent.if so,why clamour for a jail term of over fourteen years.
Which is worse,a man gulping down pension of elderly people,about 23billion denieing them their source of livelihood and means of survival being,who at the end of the day gets a minimal jail term and option of fine.and yet you deem it fit to send two individuals to jail for expressing their intimate believes,which you don't have concrete evidence to why you don't support their lifestyles except your religious hypocrisy.its a dream come true in france as freedom of expression is not trampled upon no matter ur sexual orientation.thumbs up france.

are u gay?

kasheemawo: are u gay?

Lol asking if he's gay cos he typed that? What does it matter to you if he is or not

Bigflamie: This is so cool, me likey

ogugua88:

[size=13pt]Why didn't Nigeria open rehab for them? If it's curable, then why imprison them for 14 years? Or are you waiting for Europe to do their own so that Naija can do follow follow? [/size]

Good question.

This world is finished.

okay this is effed up!!

In some years to come i see Nigeria legalizing this stuff

The beginning of the end of the world. After this some twisted people will "want to marry" animals, all the "arguments" used for this one will be used for that one as well. Shameful and disgusting.

Lmfao...how does it really feel? And dis is natural? I laff again..dis is so funny...lmfao

love the paparazzisssss

God have mercy

This is a crystal clear retardation. Anything against divine order is wrong. Have mercy oh GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention Seeking Peverts. They must be really dumb to think they can impress anyone on the long run. An anti social/unnatuarl behaviour will never stand the test of time. It will always maintain the pariah status.

YIPPPPPPY!!

Thunder fire them, when women full everywhere.

arrant nonesense. Rubbish, i don't care if those homo wed in France or Hell, all i know is that it will NEVER happen in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, i'll personally mobilize people to Beat and KILL the living day out of anybody that openly practice or advocate for gayism/lesbianism right.

Hezron Lorraine: Wow.love is love irrespective of gender.I noticed during the same sex marriage prohibition debate in the nigerian congress,how some members were quick to support the motion that gays are psychologically incompetent.if so,why clamour for a jail term of over fourteen years.
Which is worse,a man gulping down pension of elderly people,about 23billion denieing them their source of livelihood and means of survival being,who at the end of the day gets a minimal jail term and option of fine.and yet you deem it fit to send two individuals to jail for expressing their intimate believes,which you don't have concrete evidence to why you don't support their lifestyles except your religious hypocrisy.its a dream come true in france as freedom of expression is not trampled upon no matter ur sexual orientation.thumbs up france.

are u a Fagget?

I remember the land of sodom & gomora, smh for dis generation.

Lord have mercy on our soul.

i spit on you, for you all shall be cast into the pit of hell. baskards!!!

I laugh at this.. No disrespect to Gays in the house.. But personally, this is so DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!