France to pass gay marriage, adoption law ..........

 

France's Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault delivers a speech as he attends a political rally for the upcoming second tour of the legislative elections in Paris June 13, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes

(Reuters) - France's new Socialist government is to legalize marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday, reflecting a shift in public attitudes in the majority Catholic nation.

President Francois Hollande, who took office last month, had pledged to legalize gay marriage and adoption during his election campaign but had given no time frame.

Since Hollande's Socialists won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections two weeks ago, the conservative UMP party, which had opposed the measure under former president Nicolas Sarkozy, can do little to stop it.

"The government has made it an objective for the next few months to work on implementing its campaign commitments on the fight against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity," Ayrault's office said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the junior minister for families Dominique Bertinotti told French daily Le Parisien that a law on gay marriage and adoption would be passed within a year.

The statement from prime minister's office did not confirm the time frame, but asserted a law would be implemented.

In addition, the government would hold discussions in the autumn on ways of making life easier for trans gender individuals, whose dealings with French administration are often complicated by their change of name and sex.

A law granting full marriage status to gay couples would bring France, which currently provides only for same-sex civil unions, into line with fellow EU members Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden.

It would also mark a profound change in French society, where more than two-thirds of people still describe themselves as Roman Catholic, according to a 2010 survey by pollster Ifop.

However, fewer and fewer of them adhere to strict Roman Catholic teachings on sexual issues or back the Vatican's condemnation of homosexuality. Church attendance has collapsed.

As recently as 2006, surveys indicated that most French were opposed to changing the definition of marriage, but now more than 60 percent support the idea, the pollster BVA said. A majority also favor allowing gay couples to adopt children.

Nevertheless, gay rights advocates say homosexuality remains taboo in many areas of public life. Media tend to use euphemisms such as "long-term bachelor" to hint that someone is gay.

"Today, it's still very difficult to put a name on things, as if saying in public that someone was homosexual was to violate a taboo," a group of gay professionals wrote in an opinion piece in the newspaper Le Monde on Friday, the eve of a Gay Pride march in Paris.

A gay marriage law would boost Hollande's credentials as an agent of social change in the tradition of late Socialist president Francois Mitterrand, who appointed France's first female prime minister and scrapped the death penalty.

Hollande fathered four children out of wedlock with his former partner, fellow Socialist Segolene Royal.

A debate on gay rights might also draw some attention away from the economic woes weighing on his popularity.

Still, there is certain to be opposition from conservatives and practicing Catholics.

"We are convinced that young people's development requires the presence of a mother and a father," said Thierry Vidor, head of the Familles de France umbrella group, which represents some 70,000 families, and campaigns for traditional family rights.

"We will take action to try to show that this measure is ultimately dangerous for society."

ENDS

I can imagine the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship folks and the newly formed coalition headed by Reverend Peter Garth squirming to this news, France has been a repeated reference point for their arguments not to mention the Isaachar Foundation who placed that ad on December 1st 2011 (see below) quoting HIV infection rate figures to boost their argument no to repeal or decriminalize buggery locally while overlooking certain other issues unique to French society including open drug use such as public spaces for shooting up which also has a direct impact on risk of infection, it's not only unprotected anal sex that is the cause here for their high rates but one can be selective in pushing ones argument, I thought Christians were supposed to be more ethical in their dealings? 

here is a flashback news clip from the groups as well originally aired on CVM TV May 15, 2012

After all France was one of the first places on earth to legalize homosexuality in 1791 then they equalised ages of consent in 1982, prior to this announcement today however in regards to couples PACS was the order of the day, Civil solidarity pacts (PACS), a form of registered domestic partnership, were enacted in 1999 for both same-sex and unmarried opposite-sex couples by the government of Lionel Jospin. Couples who enter into a PACS contract are afforded most of the legal protections, rights, and responsibilities of marriage. The right to joint adoption and artificial insemination are also denied to PACS partners (and are largely restricted to heterosexual married couples), although there are proposals to extend the rights afforded by PACS and make them more similar to marriage. France's highest constitutional court ruled that stepchild adoption of biological children by same-sex couples is allowed. Unlike married couples, they were originally not allowed to file joint tax returns until after 3 years, though this was repealed in 2005, and joint tax returns can now be filed immediately.

Same-sex civil unions/domestic partnerships conducted under laws in foreign countries are only recognised for a few countries. Registered Civil Partnerships in the United Kingdom are not recognised – the only solution currently available for a couple in a Civil Partnership to gain PACS rights in France is to dissolve their Civil Partnership and then establish a PACS. Same-sex marriages from the Netherlands, by contrast, are already recognized. This does not however allow dual citizenship, which is reserved for opposite-sex couples. For example, a Frenchman who marries a Dutchman in the Netherlands, and therefore assumes Dutch nationality, automatically loses his French citizenship.

On June 14, 2011, the National Assembly of France voted 293–222 against legalizing same-sex marriage.Deputies of the majority party Union for a Popular Movement voted mostly against the measure, while deputies of the Socialist Party mostly voted in favor. Members of the Socialist Party stated that legalization of same-sex marriage would become a priority should they gain a majority in the French legislative election, 2012.During his campaign for French presidential election, 2012, Socialist Party candidate François Hollande declared he supports same-sex marriage and adoption for LGBT couples, and has plans to pursue the issue in early 2013 if he won. Let us see if the aforementioned anti gay groups will continue using France's record now that they have embraced Gay Marriage rights for same sex couples.


here is a short audio response I did recently:

Peace and tolerance

H

Homosexuality Will Destroy The Traditional Family (Gleaner letter) ..... well timed anti gay messages?

It seems the anti gay lobby is at it again this time with a series of well orchestrated messages well timed and placed, just days ago we heard a radio interview with a leading clergyman uttering the same thing, then the comments and emails towards my blogs with the same message then over in the neighbouring Caribbean islands namely St Lucia we saw a newscast saying the same message and the clergyman interviewed on camera there then saying homosexuality is a disorder

A prominent Clergyman believes the growth of the gay rights lobby is a big contributor to the perpetration of acts of buggery.
Catholic Priest Linus Clovis was speaking against the backdrop of the alleged incident in Canaries in which a Policeman and another man are reported to have sexually assaulted a mentally challenged teenaged boy.

Here is the letter however appearing in today's Gleaner:

Homosexuality Will Destroy The Traditional Family

THE EDITOR, Sir:


I am compelled to address the issue of homosexuality in light of recent pictures of two gay marriages by Jamaicans overseas, comments by the United States deputy assistant secretary of state that Jamaica will not be allowed to move at its own pace in its acceptance of homosexuality, and the Archbishop of Accra's thoughts on the matter.


We are seeing the very powerful gay lobby in every facet of life, be it spiritual, social, economic, legal, cultural or political. What bothers me is the fact that those of us who do not subscribe to the lifestyle are vilified, seen as haters, and many have turned a blind eye or are afraid that the mighty USA and England will not continue to be generous to us. Many of us are prepared to sell our souls for 30 pieces of silver!


I went to college in the USA where I lived in girls' dormitories and apartments in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, DC. There were lesbians and men with men everywhere! I found many of them to be well-rounded individuals, having excellent interpersonal skills, but their jealously takes on blood-curdling, deadly and demonic proportions!


All the sexual problems of the heterosexual lifestyle pale in comparison to this lifestyle. I have seen enough, experienced enough of the nastiness and perversion as I interfaced with many of them, cried with them, helped some pick up the pieces of their lives, comforted some, saw deaths, including suicide.


This lifestyle is destructive and feeds on itself. It devours as it goes along.


Love for the lifestyle


Many homosexuals will tell you that they know it is wrong but they love the lifestyle, as it enables them to 'step up inna life'. There is much material gain. Others are so fierce and in your face that it is difficult to like them, much more love them, even if they are family friends or family members. But love them we must.


I have two grandchildren. What do I tell them when they come home and ask me why does little Ann or Sam have two mommies or two daddies?


I will teach my grandchildren not to hate, kill or maim them, but that individuals chose this lifestyle which will ultimately destroy families as we know it, and that for our family, homosexuality will never be okay.


LAVERN WRAY

ENDS

My simple two cents: via some questions for her to ponder, pity she never left an email but if she or someone she knows sees this .............

Frankly Miss Wray aren't the very gay people who you so chastise now born in most cases to supposed heterosexuals be they in married unions or single parent homes?

Isn't the family as you know it already on the way to being destroyed seeing that there are so many boys on our streets that holier than thous like you drive pass and not pat attention to in any really serious fashion or provide any assistance to? And what about mis-matched marriages in church for the sake of impressing other church brethren? persons forced to enter into a relationship and they do not even know each other

What about gay and lesbian couples who raise very heterosexual children in a steady and stable household, did they destroy that child in the process?

Do not confuse consenting same gender loving adults living their lives as they see fit within the legal framework thus far with exploitative same sex relationships, they are different, way different and there are numerous examples of stable same sex unions with either adopted children or children born with an opposite sex partner in a previous union by one of the two persons in the couple and the children turn out 'undamaged" far better tolerant than other kids in a heterosexual union and are heterosexual themselves, I shudder to think what your household maybe like and the type of men and women you would be contributing to society after all didn't Christ say we must love our neighbours as ourselves, what is this fear in the religious community that homosexuals are going to poison the world?

Granting rights and privileges to same gender loving folks won't diminish or take away rights already enjoyed by heterosexuals.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself in your case.

By the way someone sent me this on facebook, thought I'd share it:

Here is an audio I did recently:

Peace and tolerance

H

Diva Diana King comes out ...........

Jamaican diva with the big voice who gaves us smash billboard hits such as "Shy Guy" "L L L Lies" fabulous dance remakes of Aretha's "Say a Little Prayer (for you)" and Chaka Khan's "Aint Nobody" and her last major summer anthem "Summer Breezes' has come out on Facebook around 9am Jamaica time and the reaction from the community has been unwaveringly supportive. I had the pleasure of meeting her in her early years in Kingston when she was on the local scene long before she signed that deal with Sony/Work records and became the international pop/dance diva she is now, she wouldn't remember me of course but I am happy that this has come in the midst of the awful stuff hapening to  sections of our LGBT community including murders of homeless brothers recently (see post below or on Gay Jamaica Watch for more)


Tongues have been wagging on certain media platforms as of late due to her new appearance tattoos and all and then her live set with Celine Dion at the Jazz and Blues festival here in Jamaica which sent speculation higher as stereotypical profiling came to the fore with her new image. Now she has answered un-apologetically.

Diana posted on her facebook page the following note:


My name is DIANA EUGENA KING, known to most as DIANA KING my fans call me KingSinga.

I AM … WOMAN … MOTHER ... AUNT … JAMAICAN … AMERICAN ... INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ... SINGER ... SONGWRITER ... BAND LEADER … FRIEND ... LOVER ... ENTREPRENEUR ... GODDESS! among other things AND YES!!!…

I AM A LESBIAN ... the answer to my most asked INDIRECT question.

I welcome the "WHO CARES" right now LOL.

I answer now, not because it's anyone's business BUT because IT FEELS RIGHT WITH my SOUL and I believe by not answering or hiding it all these years somehow makes it appear as if I AM ASHAMED OF IT or THAT I BELIEVE IT IS WRONG. I FEEL NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS … or I would have grown my hair. But all kidding aside, I AM a private person, but sometimes, one has to step outside of their comfort zone to GROW. This here, that I'm doing, is my road. Not everyone will OR is required to travel this way. Some people will carry this fact about themselves to the grave and that's their prerogative but, a "GOOD" reputation can be a GIGANTIC LOAD in a girls backpack. I KNOW now that it's time I fully practice the meaning of my face tattoo, which is LOVE YOURSELF LIVE YOURSELF. I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT REAL.

HONESTLY SPEAKING, I have always been AFRAID to admit it openly, because of the UNKNOWN of what it may cause negatively, to me my career my family and loved ones. But I realized that it is not my job to make others COMFORTABLE, I AM ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY LIFE, the stuff U think about on your deathbed and at this point in my life I DO NOT CARE about the things that FRIGHTEN me anymore. My biggest regret is that I didn't COME OUT earlier because being silent has held me back from being ALL that I was born to be. The DEEP FEAR that I've had, especially that my own JAMAICAN PEOPLE will judge me and not accept me because of their homophobia has been a heavy burden. I fly my country's flag HIGH. Always with respect and honor everywhere I go, there is no doubt where I AM from, especially in my music. And I am nothing but PROUD of myself and my accomplishments, no one can take that away from me, IT IS already written in the History Books. But I often wonder, if JAMROCK would have STILL been proud of me if they knew the truth from the days of SHY GUY. So even though I'm a woman of the world, living out of my massive duffle bags in different countries, week after week month after month , JAMAICA has been in my head with great LOVE and absolute FEAR. The harsh reality that people like ME are persecuted, beaten, jailed, raped and murdered everyday JUST for being who they are or JUST EVEN BEING SUSPECTED OF IT. It's what I saw too many times growing up in SPANISH TOWN and living in KINGSTON and it scared me to death. I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF THERE. It is hard to imagine the anguish inside if you are not considered an ABOMINATION I and cannot relate personally. BUT GO AHEAD …….. IMAGINE IT for a minute.

And I can only image what it is like, living there and enduring that reality everyday 24/7 365 days of the year. I WILL NOT carry this baggage ANYMORE. In about 10 years I will B older than both my parents before they died. MY PERSONAL NEED to be 100% authentic and TRUE to myself and to make sure my children learn, especially from me, not to EVER be afraid to be WHO THEY ARE is stronger than any insecurities I may have had over the years. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WHO I AM from the moment I could think and had even tried to be THE OPPOSITE because of society's pressures. Trying to LIVE A LIE is horrible, whether GAY or STRAIGHT and for me, was the saddest part of it all because it only caused immense pain to everyone involved. I have been myself to the fullest ALL EXCEPT for when I came to my sexuality. And it is particularly tormenting U R a FREE SPIRIT. Only people who were very close knew because I told them. I've never felt comfortable being around or working with people who were UNCOMFORTABLE with that fact … and I thought for a long while that that would be enough. But it wasn't and it is not. NOT FOR ME … it feels like living INCOMPLETE. I have MUCH RESPECT and deep ADMIRATION for all those who have COME OUT before me, Dead or Alive. I have stood on the sidelines COVETING your bravery. YOU and LOVE have given me the COURAGE.

I could have STAYED SAFE AND HIDDEN but for me, IT WOULD MEAN THAT ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DIED for BEING LIKE ME … ALL DIED IN VAIN. JUST LIKE BLACK PEOPLE WHO DIED FOR ME SO THAT I COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RIGHTS I NOW HAVE … WOULD HAVE ALL DIED IN VAIN (and if U think some of them weren't gay and lesbian as well U R sadly mistaken) … BUT IF I DID NOT or DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREEDOMS THEY GIVE ME AND CARRY THAT TORCH and KNOWLEDGE with DIGNITY and SHOW MY GRATITUDE and RESPECT and DO MY PART BY LIVING A LIFE THAT WOULD MAKE THEM PROUD, it would B like spitting in they faces. NOT TOO LONG AGO, I would NOT have been able to go to school much less college. Maybe I would have been ALLOWED to sing for them but NOT touch them. The mic I used would B thrown out AND I would probably have to open my legs REAL WIDE before I got paid a SMALL FRACTION of what I deserved if any at all. I would have had to use the NIGGA back door and stay in a THE NIGGA HOTEL. I couldn't fly 1st class, PLEEEEASE try NO-CLASS, a girl like me would have to take a boat and keep out of sight at the very bottom. I COULDN'T B in the presence of white people if I wasn't the maid. And if they felt HAPPY they might just celebrate by RAPING or LYNCHING ME. All because their interpretation of the BIBLE said, WE WERE LESS THAN HUMAN. I haven't forgetten the PAST, the INSANITY but it is HISTORY and not meant to be a disrespect to my caucasian family. MY fans come in every shape, age, color, class and creed and I LOVE and APPRECIATED ALL of them. Weve come a far way and have a ways to go, but we HAVE GORWN. I'm not here to compare to fight or defend myself or to debate wrong or right. BUT KNOW THIS!

WE ARE everywhere and everyone whether U acknowledge US or not. WE R people U love and cannot live without. WE bring U joy and entertain U. Some of U have even gotten married and made love to our songs, repeated our quotes and have our Art hanging in your homes. WE deliver your babies WE save your lives in hospitals and in wars. WE defend U in the courts and stand up for your rights. WE design the clothes and shoes U just have to have and cannot live without. U hand us your money at the banks. WE fly U to the beautiful and exciting places U love to travel to. WE give U knowledge and inspiration everyday with our words, music and dance. U eat at our restaurants and dance in our nighclubs. WE hold your hands and pray for U on your deathbeds. WE baptize U and marry U. WE R ... your NEIGHBORS your FRIENDS and your FAMILY.

I am not seeking anyone's approval. 

The people I love and care about the most, love me no matter what and my true fans love my music and my positive energy on and off-stage. I have never been disrespectful to anyone, and have repeatedly shared my deepest thoughts and feelings with you and have demonstrated my UNWAVERING LOVE and COMPASSION for humanity, time and time again thanks to social media. I have been blessed with eyes that only see a person's HEART, not the labels placed on them, whether obvious or not. And if there is a GOD .. that trait, my best quality, came straight from the ALMIGHTY. That is WHO I AM to MY CORE and I cannot B anything else. I cannot tell where this will lead but I KNOW, I WILL B ALRIGHT and just like ths status I posted a few day ago, I have two options

"I KNOW not just BELIEVE, THAT IF I LEAP OFF THIS LEDGE INTO THE DARKNESS OF WHAT IS UNCERTAIN ... I WILL EITHER LAND ON MY FEET ON SOMETHING STRONG or I WILL GROW WINGS AND FLY.

As usual, MUCH LUV AND GOOD VIBES TO U ALL. AND IF U DECIDE NOW THAT U DO NOT "LOVE" ME ANYMORE … KNOW THIS!!! NOTHING WILL EVER MAKE ME STOP LOVING U.

ENDS

Since then this cartoon has come as one of the responses: