Congratulations

[friedgreentomato]

Thought I would post some good news after all the sad news over the last week.

http://www.channel4.com/news/gay-marriage-first-gay-couple-wed-in-france

[Graham-W]

I hope the groom and the groom will be very happy.

[sir.prize]

. . . but it is a fuss about nothing.

[DaisyNonna]

What a mess!
Surely these anomalies should be addressed before changing the law?

[mushroom25]

re "adultery and vows" in SP's post, it has been argued that not redefining adultery in the new law amounts to discrimination, since heteros can cite adultery as grounds for divorce but gays cannot. expect a test case shortly after it becomes law! of course, the easiest solution would be to abolish the concept of adultery for everyone.

[jim360]

Why is that the easiest solution? Better would be to expand the concept, I'd have thought, to cover sexual relations with anyone not involved in the marriage.

[sir.prize]

As DaisyNonna says - what a mess!

[mushroom25]

you would have thought so Jim, but the government have expressly announced that the legal definition of adultery won't be changed.

[DaisyNonna]

Something they know about.

[sir.prize]

On News at Ten now - kissing - switched off. Not only is it laughable . . .

[jim360]

Like it or not sirprize, it's a significant moment -- and is News. What else do you expect?

[sara3]

seriously, if you don't like it, don't do it!

I don't know why people can't just be happy for other people. get your heads out of your backsides and stick them back in the sand.

[sir.prize]

I expect just that jim. But I don't have to watch it . . . doi I?

[jim360]

No, but you don't have to post comments like "laughable", "fuss about nothing", etc. I'm not sure why you think it's laughable when it's the next step in a fight for equality; that it's a fuss over nothing when this first marriage in a country where the law has only just changed to allow such marriages.

Ironically, it would be a fuss over nothing only if you agreed with their right to marry: "Why are we fussing over what they should have had already?"

[sir.prize]

jim. You are right – I don’t have to post comments at all; but I consider that I am entitled to an opinion or two. Yes, I did find it laughable. And your use of the word ‘equality’ is equally laughable. There are many anomalies still existing which eliminate equality to prevail. And the public event that was concocted was totally unnecessary. A ‘Gretna-type’ ceremony was surely possible. My comments may fly in the face of your opinions but that is just unfortunate. My views don’t appear to be alone on this thread either. Ironically the happy couple will now obviously be seeking privacy; unlike the ‘pantomime’ they orchestrated today. French lovers – sounds great. Can’t wait to see the tadpoles . . . . .

[Khandro]

They may be gay, they may be something, but they can't be 'married', despite what the French legislature says, purely on etymological grounds, because every dictionary of the French, English and all other languages since language itself began, has defined marriage as the union of two persons of the opposite sex. Whatever it is, it requires new terminology.

[dr b]

The latest Chambers seems to be up on things:
marriage /marˈij/
noun
1. The ceremony, act or contract by which a man and woman become husband and wife
2. A similar ceremony, etc, between homosexuals

[sir.prize]

drb - ''A similar ceremony''. Indeed, similar, but not the same. Therefore the word equality is again redundant.

[jim360]

"fight for equality" -- not actual equality yet, by any stretch. But I never said that.

This was a first. That makes it at the very least worth reporting on, though in principle I agree that such ceremonies ought to remain less of a news item. That will be truer equality anyway. When nobody cares, because it's normal.

[jackthehat]

I'm sure that Messieurs Autin and Boileau consider themselves to now be married, and French Legislation agrees with them.

Any sign of the sky falling in, yet...?

[sir.prize]

Good points jim. I agree. Except for your use of the word 'normal'.