French mayors
band together against same-sex marriage

A group of French mayors--mostly members of the country's ruling conservative party--is demanding that it be consulted before the country legalizes marriage for gay and lesbian couples, Agence France-Presse reported Friday. The group, Mayors for Childhood, claims that one third of France's 36,000 mayors share their position. Since 1999 straight and gay couples in the country have been allowed to enter into civil unions. Marriages, however, have to solemnized at a town hall by the mayor or his or her representative, according to the news agency. "We cannot deliberately deprive certain children of a father and a mother," said the group's spokesman, Franck Meyer, mayor of Sotteville-sous-le-Val. (Advocate.com)