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| France Joins Gay Couples by Thousands, Amid Gripes | |
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| PARIS — Same-sex marriage has been gaining acceptance in France a year after a law allowing such unions was passed following vociferous public opposition and heated debate in Parliament. | PARIS — Same-sex marriage has been gaining acceptance in France a year after a law allowing such unions was passed following vociferous public opposition and heated debate in Parliament. |
| More than 7,000 same-sex marriages were celebrated in 2013, according to recent figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. | More than 7,000 same-sex marriages were celebrated in 2013, according to recent figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. |
| Paris had the largest number of same-sex weddings — more than 1,000 — but ceremonies were also held in both small villages and in large cities throughout the country. In total, same-sex marriages represented 3 percent of all weddings in 2013. Most of those unions were between middle-age men. | Paris had the largest number of same-sex weddings — more than 1,000 — but ceremonies were also held in both small villages and in large cities throughout the country. In total, same-sex marriages represented 3 percent of all weddings in 2013. Most of those unions were between middle-age men. |
| Erwann Binet, a Socialist member of Parliament who presented the law at the National Assembly last year, called the change “considerable,” adding that the marriages of the past year had helped the public view same-sex marriage as a positive development. | Erwann Binet, a Socialist member of Parliament who presented the law at the National Assembly last year, called the change “considerable,” adding that the marriages of the past year had helped the public view same-sex marriage as a positive development. |
| The law was viewed as a significant victory for President François Hollande, who at the time was already facing flagging support in public opinion polls, which have only worsened since then. | The law was viewed as a significant victory for President François Hollande, who at the time was already facing flagging support in public opinion polls, which have only worsened since then. |
| Demonstrations against the same-sex marriage law, which sometimes turned violent, swept the country and were particularly forceful in the months before the law was put into effect in May last year, but continued after the law passed. Behind the opposition were conservative and religious leaders as well as some groups that simply opposed Mr. Hollande’s left-leaning government. | Demonstrations against the same-sex marriage law, which sometimes turned violent, swept the country and were particularly forceful in the months before the law was put into effect in May last year, but continued after the law passed. Behind the opposition were conservative and religious leaders as well as some groups that simply opposed Mr. Hollande’s left-leaning government. |
| “Each time there was a victory for equal rights in France, we did it confrontationally,” said Mr. Binet, the legislation’s sponsor in Parliament. | “Each time there was a victory for equal rights in France, we did it confrontationally,” said Mr. Binet, the legislation’s sponsor in Parliament. |
| France is one of 15 countries worldwide to allow same-sex marriage. | France is one of 15 countries worldwide to allow same-sex marriage. |
| Many opponents of the law said that they would be willing to accept the notion of same-sex marriage, but that they could not tolerate a provision that allowed married same-sex couples to adopt children, arguing that a child should be raised by a man and a woman. | Many opponents of the law said that they would be willing to accept the notion of same-sex marriage, but that they could not tolerate a provision that allowed married same-sex couples to adopt children, arguing that a child should be raised by a man and a woman. |
| The law allows all married couples to adopt children but does not include medical treatment to help same-sex couples bear children via artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization, which are paid for by the state for heterosexual couples under certains conditions. | |
| For many same-sex couples who tied the knot in recent months, the number of same-sex unions was not surprising. Many said they felt the urge to marry because it gave them and their children the same rights and protections as heterosexual married couples. | For many same-sex couples who tied the knot in recent months, the number of same-sex unions was not surprising. Many said they felt the urge to marry because it gave them and their children the same rights and protections as heterosexual married couples. |
| The number is high, but “it’s normal at the same time,” said Anthony Auvrouin, 37, who married Fabien Peulvey, 33, in February in Avranches, a city in northern France. “It was urgent for us, especially in case of death, because marriage allows protection. It is a state contract,” he said, referring to inheritance rights and spousal benefits. | The number is high, but “it’s normal at the same time,” said Anthony Auvrouin, 37, who married Fabien Peulvey, 33, in February in Avranches, a city in northern France. “It was urgent for us, especially in case of death, because marriage allows protection. It is a state contract,” he said, referring to inheritance rights and spousal benefits. |
| Mr. Auvrouin, who runs a shop selling decorative home furnishings with his partner, married “not because we were allowed to do so by law but because we knew the importance of marriage, and the commitment it represented,” he said. | Mr. Auvrouin, who runs a shop selling decorative home furnishings with his partner, married “not because we were allowed to do so by law but because we knew the importance of marriage, and the commitment it represented,” he said. |
| They held a celebration at their shop with their families and many of their clients. “Our guests were happy; they said that our wedding was special because our commitment was pure and honest.” | They held a celebration at their shop with their families and many of their clients. “Our guests were happy; they said that our wedding was special because our commitment was pure and honest.” |
| “My parents cried when I announced I was getting married,” he said, emphasizing that they were tears of joy. | “My parents cried when I announced I was getting married,” he said, emphasizing that they were tears of joy. |
| Mr. Auvrouin said that Guénhaël Huet, the conservative mayor of Avranches at the time of their union who conducted the civil ceremony at City Hall, did so reluctantly. | Mr. Auvrouin said that Guénhaël Huet, the conservative mayor of Avranches at the time of their union who conducted the civil ceremony at City Hall, did so reluctantly. |
| “He did it coldly, not very enthusiastically,” Mr. Auvrouin said. “He felt obliged.” | “He did it coldly, not very enthusiastically,” Mr. Auvrouin said. “He felt obliged.” |
| In some towns mayors felt so uncomfortable with the new law that they asked their deputies to officiate the ceremonies for them. | In some towns mayors felt so uncomfortable with the new law that they asked their deputies to officiate the ceremonies for them. |
| In Fontgombault, a small village in central France, the mayor refused to carry out the law, saying that there were “laws of nature that are higher than the laws of man,” and that he was forbidden from officiating at a same-sex wedding. Such conflicts between personal beliefs and French law will eventually be adjudicated by the courts, but no cases have so far worked their way through the system. | In Fontgombault, a small village in central France, the mayor refused to carry out the law, saying that there were “laws of nature that are higher than the laws of man,” and that he was forbidden from officiating at a same-sex wedding. Such conflicts between personal beliefs and French law will eventually be adjudicated by the courts, but no cases have so far worked their way through the system. |
| Franck Meyer, the mayor of Sotteville-sous-le-Val, near Paris, who opposes same-sex marriage, said the government had an obligation to protect the right of individual public officials to follow their conscience. “We think that the state hasn’t played its role,” he said in an interview with newspaper Le Figaro last year. |