It's Officially Not Offical

Jean Vila, the mayor of the town of Cabestany, said he presided over the nuptials of 48-year-old Patrick and Guillaume, 37, as an act of protest.  France still doesn't recognize same-sex marriage even though a recent poll showed that 58% of the country was in favor.


"To outlaw homosexual marriage is to deny the reality of thousands of homosexual couples," he said after the ceremony in the city hall of the town about 40 kilometers from the Spanish border. "This decision to join these two people for me is an act of anger and revolt in the face of the authorities' refusal to legitimize such unions."


The unofficial marriage license reads "Unfortunately this document has no official character, since the law today forbids marriage between people of the same sex, but it signifies the wish of the local authority to see the law change."


As the illegal marriage of two men in 2004 was quickly annulled, Vila declined to enter Patrick and Guillaume's wedding in the official registry to avoid a similar fate. France recognizes same-sex couples with civil partnerships, but not marriage.