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Marriage Equality

Paris Politician Says Marriage Equality Leads to Incest

Paris Politician Says Marriage Equality Leads to Incest

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Is there a backlash against marriage equality brewing in France?

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Francois Lebel, a Parisian mayor (the equivalent of an American city council member), has announced that does not support France's move toward marriage equality and he will refuse to preside over same-sex weddings because they will lead to legal incest and polygamy. According to AFP/Google News, Lebel "has been widely condemned for his comments by politicians across the political spectrum," including his own political party, the UMP. Some say that Lebel, however, reflects a "grassroots revolt" against marriage equality.

Lebel wrote an editorial in a Paris newspaper saying same-sex marriage sets a dangerous precedent: "Why then would the legal age for marriage be maintained? And why forbid marriage between close relations, paedophilia [sic] or incest which are all still common currency in the world."

According to AFP, polls say that about 66% of French voters back marriage equality. The news service reports that a group of mayors on the island of Corsica have announced they will refuse to carry out same-sex weddings and local council members in the Paris suburb of Le Chesnay "passed a motion calling for a referendum, an idea that seems to be gathering momentum."

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Diane Anderson-Minshall

Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.
Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.