Current Affairs

France’s first married gay couple honeymoon at Tel Aviv Pride

Jun 07 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

The first gay couple to marry in France have taken to Tel Aviv for their honeymoon, following their wedding ceremony last week which attracted international media attention.

Vincent Autin, a 40-year-old PR firm head, and his husband Bruno Boileau, a 29-year-old government worker, were married in Montpellier’s town hall last Wednesday afternoon.

The City’s Mayor Helene Mandroux, officiated, called the ceremony an “historic moment”, and said the couple represented a “united France”.

On Friday morning, after spending the night at French Ambassador Christophe Bigot’s seaside mansion, the newlyweds arrived at Tel Aviv’s Gan Meir, for music and speeches.

“France has voted for the law of love,” said Autin. “For us it’s very important to be a bridge, especially here in the Middle East, so that what’s happened in France, and the way we are received and embraced here, can become an example for the rest of the Middle East.”

Boileau also commented, saying: “We had heard in the media and especially in the gay media, that Tel Aviv was very gay friendly, but we only arrived last night.”

Following months of sometimes violent protests, and a substantial rise in homophobic attacks, French President Hollande signed the law making France the fourteenth country in the world to allow equal marriage, two weeks ago.

After the ceremony, whilst opening mail regarding the passing of equal marriage, government officials found threats, including a package of faeces addressed to Montpellier’s mayor.