First French gay marriage in tense ambience

In a historic ceremony broadcast live on French television, the first gay couple to marry in France said “oui,” then sealed the deal with a lengthy and very public kiss. The politically charged ceremony was held under tight police surveillance a stark reminder of the months of bruising opposition to the new gay marriage law that French lawmakers passed earlier this month.

Though the marriage itself went undisrupted, outside the city hall it was not trouble-free. A plainclothes policeman dragged back one protester who shouted threats and tried to approach the couple as they were being escorted into the building, before the ceremony. Police also used tear gas to push back a small group of demonstrators who gathered behind the city hall.

 Vincent Autin after exchanging vows with Bruno Boileau said that, even if we have passed the hurdle of equality, there are still more battles to fight... But for now, it’s a moment for festivity, for love. Some cried, others smiled as Frank Sinatra’s hit “Love and Marriage” blasted out, marking them tying the knot. Mr. Boileau said that, many people have been waiting for this law on marriage and adoption. Now, it’s done. Many people are going to be doing as [we] did, and celebrating their unions... [We] are very pleased and honoured

The two men then walked hand-in-hand to the city hall balcony to wave to well-wishers alongside Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux, who officiated at the ceremony. Smiling proudly, Mr. Mandroux called the marriage a “historic moment” and “a stage in the modernisation of our country”.

It is not clear yet when the first gay adoption will take place. News of the marriage will not be welcomed in every corner of France. Earlier, tens of thousands of people protested fiercely in Paris against the gay marriage law, demonstrations that ended with riot police shooting tear gas. A plan to legalise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt was a liberal cornerstone of Socialist Francois Hollande’s election manifesto last year. It initially looked like a shoo-in for the President since the measures were supported by a majority of the country and an easy way to break with his conservative predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

But the issue became a touchstone as Mr. Hollande’s popularity sunk to unprecedented lows, largely over France’s ailing economy. The law became a political hot potato that exposed bitter divisions between urban France, where homosexuality is widely accepted, and the Catholic heartland where conservative attitudes hold sway.

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Hillary Clinton announces support for gay marriage

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her support for gay marriage, putting her in line with other potential Democratic presidential candidates on a social issue that is rapidly gaining public approval. Clinton made the announcement in an online video released by the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. She says in the six-minute video that gays and lesbians are "full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship."

"That includes marriage," she says, adding that she backs gay marriage both "personally and as a matter of policy and law."

Clinton's announcement is certain to further fuel the already rampant speculation that she is considering another run for president in 2016. Other possible Democratic contenders - including Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley - all back the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Polls show that public opinion on gay marriage has shifted perhaps more rapidly than on any other major issue in recent times. In Gallup polling last November, 53 percent of adult Americans said same-sex marriages should be granted the same status as traditional marriages, while 46 percent felt they should not be valid. [In 1996, when Gallup first asked about gay marriages, 27 percent felt they should be valid]

The shift among the major political parties has been equally swift. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton and rival Barack Obama both backed civil unions for gay couples, but not same-sex marriage. In the lead-up to the 2012 election, Obama announced his support for gay marriage and Democrats backed the right of same-sex couples to wed in their party's official platform.

The GOP officially opposes gay marriage, though several high profile Republicans have publicly backed the right of same-sex couples to wed. Earlier, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the first Republican senator to announce his support for gay marriage, saying he had a change of heart after learning that his son is gay.

More than 100 Republicans also submitted a "friend of the court" brief to the Supreme Court asking the justices to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. The court will hear oral arguments on California's Proposition 8 measure later.

Justices will also hear arguments in a related case concerning the constitutionality of a provision in the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. President Bill Clinton signed the act into law in 1996, but said earlier this month that he now believes it is unconstitutional and should be overturned.

Despite holding back in supporting same-sex marriage, Hillary Clinton was a strong support of gay rights, both in the U.S. and abroad, during her tenure at the State Department. Under her watch, the U.S. government made it official policy to promote gay rights around the world.