France has first gay marriage

[joninliverton]

Hi. The first gay marriage took place in France yesterday. The couple seemed very happy but had to have security at the wedding due to elements of the French far right being so against it. There were massive protests over the weekend but the French president and the government (by a large majority) were determined to push through the legislation.

Some right wing mayors who would be conducting the ceremony in villages have announced their dislike and said they would charge that activity to a lesser of their office. I suspect that those Mayors had better watch out otherwise they'll be looking for another job. The French govt are very determined about this.

BTW France is the 14th country to allow gay marriage. Our government has it on the agenda for the next parliament.

 

[Rick2206]

And TOMORROW, 31 May the 502nd Gay Divorce will take place iun France, too. Let's celebrate! Yeah!

 

[joninliverton]

And TOMORROW, 31 May the 502nd Gay Divorce will take place iun France, too. Let's celebrate! Yeah!

If you've got nothing important to say STFU

 

[Ambivalent]

Hi. The first gay marriage took place in France yesterday. The couple seemed very happy but had to have security at the wedding due to elements of the French far right being so against it. There were massive protests over the weekend but the French president and the government (by a large majority) were determined to push through the legislation.

Some right wing mayors who would be conducting the ceremony in villages have announced their dislike and said they would charge that activity to a lesser of their office. I suspect that those Mayors had better watch out otherwise they'll be looking for another job. The French govt are very determined about this.

BTW France is the 14th country to allow gay marriage. Our government has it on the agenda for the next parliament.

*********************************************

Hey, Jon ~

Like you, I was glad to hear about this. I was talking to a couple of friends from Paris about it all, and couldn't help but express a little shock at what a row this has caused, in France. (Unlike in Canada, where there was barely a whisper.)

The interesting thing, for me, is that, while many of us ignorant North Americans consider France to be a quintessentially liberal and tolerant place, people forget that it is still (in many ways) deeply ideologically polarized - if not so much on economic issues, certainly on social ones. A (francophone) Swiss friend of mine put it best - he said, "The French reactionary right makes the Tea Partiers look like so many soft and cuddly Teddy-bears!" ;-)

It's sad, but true. Now, however, hopefully France will be able to move forward, so that those who wish to live their loves with full legal recognition, will be able to do so with greater comfort, and less controversy, over time. And, I look forward to the U.K. following suit, very shortly

Hugs,
"A" XOXOXOXOXO

 

[joninliverton]

*********************************************

Hey, Jon ~

Like you, I was glad to hear about this. I was talking to a couple of friends from Paris about it all, and couldn't help but express a little shock at what a row this has caused, in France. (Unlike in Canada, where there was barely a whisper.)

The interesting thing, for me, is that, while many of us ignorant North Americans consider France to be a quintessentially liberal and tolerant place, people forget that it is still (in many ways) deeply ideologically polarized - if not so much on economic issues, certainly on social ones. A (francophone) Swiss friend of mine put it best - he said, "The French reactionary right makes the Tea Partiers look like so many soft and cuddly Teddy-bears!" ;-)

It's sad, but true. Now, however, hopefully France will be able to move forward, so that those who wish to live their loves with full legal recognition, will be able to do so with greater comfort, and less controversy, over time. And, I look forward to the U.K. following suit, very shortly

Hugs,
"A" XOXOXOXOXO

Jeez Ambi, you are so world wise. I mean there is 21 miles between Dover and Calais and that is probably the most I know about the French, well apart from their brilliant resistance movement in WWII. I did however, take interest in this latest issue, as did the UK news, primarily because of the ensuing similar movement in parliament.

 

[AsIseeIt]

Hey Jon,

If same sex marriage become legit in the U.K., would you avail of it. Are you the marrying kind?

 

[joninliverton]

Hey Jon,

If same sex marriage become legit in the U.K., would you avail of it. Are you the marrying kind?

No, not at all. I think the civil ceremony which has been legal in the uk for a few years is sufficient enough. Some gay rights movements go too far and sometimes touch on raw nerves. Gay and Lesbians in the uk are now allowed to join the Armed Forces, and be unified by the civil ceremony. This unification gives all the legal rights as a married hetero couple have. I personally think that there are more important issues that the Govt should be dealing with at this time, than gay marriage rights.