French President Won't Attend Sochi

French President Francois Hollande will not be attending the Sochi Olympics, but so far the French government hasn't given a reason. Via Buzzfeed:

“There are no plans to attend,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the station. “Top French officials have no plans to be there.” Fabius offered no explanation for the decision to ditch the games, according to Europe 1, which suggested it might be due to Russia’s controversial anti-LGBT “gay propaganda” ban. France’s Sports Minister Valérie Fourneyron expressed concerns about the law to her Russian counterpart in August. Hollande attended the Summer Games in London, along with a record number of other world leaders.

Buzzfeed notes that the White House has not yet announced whether the United States is sending an official delegation. The First Lady attended the Summer Games in London last year and that announcement came four months in advance. Last week the ceremonial president of Germany announced that he was boycotting Sochi over Russia's anti-gay pogrom.

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Posted in: France,Francois Hollande,Russia,Sochi Olympics

FRANCE: Manif Pour Tous Releases Dozens Of Chickens Outside Parliament

France's Manif Pour Tous yesterday released dozens of chickens outside of Parliament in Paris in yet another bizarre anti-gay marriage protest.

What was it all in aid of? Well, the unleashing of the chickens was, of all things, a protest by anti-gay marriage movement La Manif Pour Tous (the Demo for All). The organization, bereft of its original leaders, who walked away in rancour and humiliation after France’s legalization of gay marriage in May, was responsible for the “poulets” protest around 3pm on Wednesday. The organizers of the stunt pulled up outside the National Assembly and attempted to unleash 450 chickens from the back of an Avis rental van – even kicking some of the birds out. As the van sped away, followed by police, around 40 chickens were left to flutter about outside the French parliament, dodging passing traffic and being chased by members of the gendarmerie. At least two were killed by passing vehicles, and another two found dead at Bois de Boulogne on the outskirts of the city, according to Libération.

Four members of Manif Pour Tous were arrested at the scene and animal rights activists from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation say they are pressing charges of animal cruelty.

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Posted in: France,hate groups,Manif Pour Tous,religion

France Needs to Keep Evolving

Here's an example of why France, which recently embraced the limited same-gender freedom to marry, needs to evolve to full marriage equality sooner rather than later.

Two adults, in the 40s, are being denied their right to marry.

Why?

Because many years ago, she was married to his father.

It doesn't matter that the hopeful groom was well into adulthood when she married his father.

It doesn't matter that the marriage only lasted three years.

It doesn't matter that she was left by that husband.

It doesn't matter that they are close in age.

The ridiculous laws say she is a stepmother to him, that such a relationship means they are to be denied their right to marry, and even the President can't do anything about it until the law is changed.

France has been friendly to consanguinamory, but when it comes to marriage, even though there is no blood relation, the discrimination continues.

As the law stands now, this couple can only marry if the hopeful groom's father dies/

How stupid is that?

Liberty? Equality? Hardly!

Lawmakers in France and just about every other country need to remedy the inequalities and inconsistencies sooner rather than later. It is simple, really. Rather than quibbling over which adults get which rights, just adopt a blanket approach: an adult, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion, should be free to share love, sex, residence, and marriage with any and all consenting adults, without prosecution, bullying, or discrimination.

By the way, the article gives no indication of what the hopeful groom's father thinks of all of this. At some time, he wanted this woman. Why is it surprising his son wants her now?

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Posted in: Europe,France,freedom to marry,incest,lack of equality harms,law,mother-son

France Needs to Keep Evolving

Here's an example of why France, which recently embraced the limited same-gender freedom to marry, needs to evolve to full marriage equality sooner rather than later.

Two adults, in the 40s, are being denied their right to marry.

Why?

Because many years ago, she was married to his father.

It doesn't matter that the hopeful groom was well into adulthood when she married his father.

It doesn't matter that the marriage only lasted three years.

It doesn't matter that she was left by that husband.

It doesn't matter that they are close in age.

The ridiculous laws say she is a stepmother to him, that such a relationship means they are to be denied their right to marry, and even the President can't do anything about it until the law is changed.

France has been friendly to consanguinamory, but when it comes to marriage, even though there is no blood relation, the discrimination continues.

As the law stands now, this couple can only marry if the hopeful groom's father dies/

How stupid is that?

Liberty? Equality? Hardly!

Lawmakers in France and just about every other country need to remedy the inequalities and inconsistencies sooner rather than later. It is simple, really. Rather than quibbling over which adults get which rights, just adopt a blanket approach: an adult, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion, should be free to share love, sex, residence, and marriage with any and all consenting adults, without prosecution, bullying, or discrimination.

By the way, the article gives no indication of what the hopeful groom's father thinks of all of this. At some time, he wanted this woman. Why is it surprising his son wants her now?

Read more »

Posted in: Europe,France,freedom to marry,incest,lack of equality harms,law,mother-son