First gay marriage in france
France’s first gay wedding
Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau exchanged vows on Wednesday in front of relatives and friends at Montpellier's city hall in a ceremony officiated by the mayor, Helene Mandroux.
Riot police stood guard outside the building to confirm that protesters did not interrupt the marriage.
"It's a great pleasure for me to declare you married by law," said Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux, before the two men kissed and signed the marriage registry.
The couple embraced to cheers from an audience of about 500 people, accompanied by the song "Love and Marriage" by Frank Sinatra. The pair have been in a relationship for six years after gathering in an online forum where they discussed music.
Following the ceremony, the 40-year-old Autin made an heartfelt speech thanking supporters and his family. "Love yourselves, let's love ourselves, because it's important," he said.
Officials in Montpellier, which boasts of being France's most gay-friendly town, had intended to broadcast the wedding live on a giant TV screen. The plan was later abandoned.
Just before the men entered the building, a smoke bomb was thrown from outside the perimeter of the city hall,
For a moment, the wedding on Wednesday felt like the most traditional of occasions, as Nat King Cole’s classic song “Love Was Made for Me and You” blared out of the speakers, and an ecstatic couple made their way down the aisle. But there was one difference: the couple were both men.
France’s first gay marriage, officiated in the town hall of Montpellier in front of hundreds of people, was as much the finish of a acrimonious political battle as the fruits of a great love. That much was obvious as Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau sat listening hand in hand to the speech of Montpellier Mayor Hélène Mandroux, who stood before a portrait of President François Hollande and told them, moments before they took their vows, “Our community cannot have any prejudices.” In a hall jammed with politicians, photographers and television crews, Mandroux called the wedding, broadcast live on French networks, “a symbol for France,” and said “the very fact that marriage has been opened to everybody has triggered a wave of hatred and dissent.”
(MORE:France Legalizes Gay Marriage Despite Vocal and Irate Opposition)
That is an understatement. For months Paris streets own been racked with violent clas
Bruno Boileau and Vincent Autin became France’s first gay married couple yesterday under a fiercely-contested recent law that has prompted angry street protests and violence.
They said “oui” — the French equivalent of “I will” — in Montpellier’s futuristic glass-and-metal town hall, before 500 relatives, friends and well-wishers, including Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the minister for women’s rights who is also the government spokeswoman.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to announce you married,” Hélène Mandroux, the mayor of the Mediterranean city and a gay rights campaigner, standing in front of a gold-framed photograph of President François Hollande, told the couple.
Police kept the venue under finalize surveillance amid fears of disruption by hardline opponents of same-sex marriage.
The couple said they had received threats, but the ceremony passed off peacefully. They wore matching dark suits and Mr Boileau, 30, sported a bow-tie and Mr Autin, 40, a dark tie.
“People will think of us,” Mr Autin said after the ceremony. “We’re Vincent and Bruno Boileau-Autin.”
“Marriage for all is a law of fraternity that strengthens our society,” Ms Mandroux, said.
After months of de
First gay marriage celebrated in France
MONTPELLIER, France - Two men married each other in the southern French city of Montpellier on Wednesday, in the first same-sex wedding in a country rocked by protests against and for the reform.
Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau exchanged vows in the city hall before the mayor, relatives and friends as dozens of riot police stood guard outside to ensure the ceremony was not interrupted by protesters.
The two men, who have been together since they hit it off six years ago discussing music in an online forum, embraced to wild cheers from the audience of some 500 people and the strains of "Love and Marriage" by U.S. crooner Frank Sinatra.
"It's a great pleasure for me to assert you married by law," said Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux as the couple, both dressed in shadowy suits, kissed and signed the marriage registry.
The ceremony marked a symbolic finish to months of debate that often overshadowed France's economic woes, sealing Socialist President Francois Hollande's reputation as a reformer despite bitter and continued contradiction from Catholics and conservatives.
Despite support for the reform in Montpellier, which boasts of being
High security at France’s first gay marriage
Two men have married each other in the southern French municipality of Montpellier in the first same-sex wedding in a territory that has been rocked by protests against, and for, the reform.
Security was on high alert for the union of Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau, who exchanged vows in the city hall on Wednesday before the mayor, relatives and friends, as dozens of riot police stood guard outside to ensure the ceremony was not interrupted by protestors.
The two men, who have been together since they hit it off six years ago discussing music in an online forum, embraced to wild cheers from the audience of about 500 people and the strains of “Love and Marriage” by Frank Sinatra.
“It’s a amazing pleasure for me to declare you married by law,” said Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux as the couple, both dressed in dark suits, kissed and signed the marriage registry.
The ceremony marked a symbolic end to months of debate that often overshadowed France’s economic woes, contributing Socialist President Francois Hollande’s reputation as a reformer despite bitter and continued opposition from Catholics and conservatives.
“This is a historic moment