This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22706351
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| First gay couple to wed in France amid tight security | First gay couple to wed in France amid tight security |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two men will become the first gay couple to wed in France, just days after President Francois Hollande signed the same-sex marriage bill into law. | Two men will become the first gay couple to wed in France, just days after President Francois Hollande signed the same-sex marriage bill into law. |
| Vincent Austin and Bruno Boileau will tie the knot in the southern city of Montpellier amid tight security. | Vincent Austin and Bruno Boileau will tie the knot in the southern city of Montpellier amid tight security. |
| Mr Hollande has warned he will not accept any disruption to the ceremony. | Mr Hollande has warned he will not accept any disruption to the ceremony. |
| The new legislation has proved controversial and sparked violent protests. | The new legislation has proved controversial and sparked violent protests. |
| The anti-gay marriage lobby, backed by the Catholic Church and conservative opposition, argues the bill undermines an essential building block of society. | The anti-gay marriage lobby, backed by the Catholic Church and conservative opposition, argues the bill undermines an essential building block of society. |
| Extra security | Extra security |
| The Socialist mayor of Montpellier will pronounce the couple "husband and husband" at 15:30 GMT (16:30 BST) on Wednesday. | The Socialist mayor of Montpellier will pronounce the couple "husband and husband" at 15:30 GMT (16:30 BST) on Wednesday. |
| Mr Austin, a 40-year-old gay rights activist, met his 30-year-old partner in 2006. | Mr Austin, a 40-year-old gay rights activist, met his 30-year-old partner in 2006. |
| Some 600 guests have been invited and 150 media crews accredited for the ceremony, the BBC's Christian Fraser, in Paris, reports. | Some 600 guests have been invited and 150 media crews accredited for the ceremony, the BBC's Christian Fraser, in Paris, reports. |
| Extra police have been drafted in, as the extreme-right might also be in attendance, our correspondent adds. | Extra police have been drafted in, as the extreme-right might also be in attendance, our correspondent adds. |
| On Sunday, at least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to denounce the same-sex marriage bill, which was signed into law on 18 May. | On Sunday, at least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris to denounce the same-sex marriage bill, which was signed into law on 18 May. |
| Earlier, the Constitutional Council ruled that same-sex marriage "did not run contrary to any constitutional principles," and that it did not infringe on "basic rights or liberties or national sovereignty". | Earlier, the Constitutional Council ruled that same-sex marriage "did not run contrary to any constitutional principles," and that it did not infringe on "basic rights or liberties or national sovereignty". |
| Some officials said they had a conscientious objection to carrying out gay wedding ceremonies. | |
| "I will find a balance between freedom of conscience and breaking the law," said Philippe Brillaut, the Mayor of Le Chesnau in western Paris. | |
| "We will retain our freedom while respecting the law - and that is in no way homophobic. And I will delegate any marriage to a socialist councillor who has agreed to conduct them." | |
| But it is not clear what will happen if, in smaller communes, all officials are against gay marriage and refuse to take part, correspondents say. | |
| Mr Hollande and his governing Socialist Party have made the legislation their flagship social reform since being elected a year ago. | Mr Hollande and his governing Socialist Party have made the legislation their flagship social reform since being elected a year ago. |
| Opinion polls have suggested that about 55-60% of French people support gay marriage, but only about 50% approve of gay adoption. | Opinion polls have suggested that about 55-60% of French people support gay marriage, but only about 50% approve of gay adoption. |
| France is now the 14th country to legalise gay marriage after New Zealand last month. | France is now the 14th country to legalise gay marriage after New Zealand last month. |
| It is also the ninth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage after legalisation in the traditionally liberal Netherlands and Scandinavia, but also in strongly Catholic Portugal and Spain. Legislation is also moving through the UK Parliament. | It is also the ninth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage after legalisation in the traditionally liberal Netherlands and Scandinavia, but also in strongly Catholic Portugal and Spain. Legislation is also moving through the UK Parliament. |