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French marriage equality bill to be introduced this Halloween, marriage equality misdirection in Washington
October 11, 2012
By Jacob Combs
Yesterday, the French government announced that a draft bill legalizing marriage equality would be approved on October 31. In addition, Socialist Prime Minister Francois Hollande’s administration is proposing changes to the country’s legal language pertaining to marriage that would replace the words “mother” and “father” with “parents.” Not surprisingly, this move has lead to criticisms that France is planning to ‘redefine’ marriage, with particularly strong opposition coming from the country’s strong Catholic church. Here’s what the UK’s Telegraph paper wrote about the issue in an article published in late September:
The head of the French Catholic Church Cardinal Philippe Barbarin warned followers last week that gay marriage could lead to legalised incest and polygamy in society. He told the Christian’s RFC radio station: “Gay marriage would herald a complete breakdown in society. ”This could have innumerable consequences. Afterward they will want to create couples with three or four members. And after that, perhaps one day the taboo of incest will fall.”
And Pope Benedict XVI invited 30 French bishops to Italy to urge them to fight against the new law. He told them: “We have there a true challenge to take on. ”The family that is the foundation of social life is threatened in many places, following a concept of human nature that has proven defective.”
The government has made it clear that the legislation will address marriage equality as well as adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples. Issues of access to in-vitro fertilization for lesbian couples and other such rights will be addressed in a secondary piece of legislation to be discussed sometime in the future.
Here in the U.S., meanwhile, ThinkProgress points to a post published on the site Pantheos.com, which describes itself as “hosting the conversation on faith,” written by Ericka M. Johnson, president of the Seattle Atheists. In her post, Johnson alleges that opponents of marriage equality in Washington have been calling supporters of equality and telling them (incorrectly) that they have to reject Referendum 74 in order to bring equal marriage rights to the state. From Johnson’s post:
[Referendum 74's opponents] are flat out lying to voters and saying they’re volunteering with “Citizens of Washington United for Marriage.” That organization does not exist. But it sounds a lot like Washington United for Marriage, the organization actually working to educate voters about the importance of approving Referendum 74.
How do I know this? On Sunday night, Seattle Atheists (my local group) hosted theFlying Spaghetti Monster Dinner for Marriage Equality. It was an amazing night with all donations going to Washington United for Marriage.
While we were setting up for the event, one of the early arrivals pulled me aside to let me know about a phone call he’d received. He was concerned that some of the WU4M volunteers had gotten their information very wrong because the person who called him was saying if you vote to approve Ref. 74 in Washington State, you’re voting against allowing same-sex marriage. The caller was extremely rude and woke him up with a Monday morning call… but Washington United for Marriage does not run phone banks in the mornings. It’s just about the worst time to call voters because everyone is getting ready for work and the day ahead. This was clearly a phone call from the opposition posing as supporters.
As always, it’s important for voters to know exactly how they should vote in the election to properly express their views–part of the confusion surrounding Prop 8 was no doubt due to the fact that a no vote in that election meant a yes vote for marriage equality. In Washington, the words to remember this November are ‘approve Referendum 74.’ The Four 2012 posted a great photo at the end of September explaining how marriage equality advocates should vote in November: in Maine, it’s ‘yes on 1,’ in Maryland, it’s ‘vote for Question 6′ and in Minnesota, it’s a simple no vote on the Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Amendment.
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12 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Samantha | October 11, 2012 at 8:32 am
That should make a few headlines! The more countries that move ahead on full equality, the more evidence there is of how it works and all of the end times predictions do not come true. I believe the reason attitudes are changing so rapidly is because the fear tactics are losing their flare when all a person has to do is look to Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Vermont, New York, etc etc and see that society hasnt collapsed, God hasnt rained down fire and brimstone, but loving couples are joined together and share both legal benefits and obligations.
2.
jpmassar | October 11, 2012 at 8:49 am
I don't think that the French marriage bill will be approved on October 31st in the sense you are implying.
France on Wednesday named October 31 as the date when a draft law authorising gay marriage will be approved by government ministers, amid mounting opposition to the proposed legislation.
http://www.thenewage.co.za/65570-1020-53-France_n…
Presumably being approved by 'Government ministers' is not the same thing as being approved by their Parliament.
3.
Walter | October 11, 2012 at 9:16 am
A month after France elected François Hollande as President, they held parliamentary elections. The left won those elections and now holds a majority. (See Wikipedia under French legislative election, 2012) Thus, marriage equality is coming to France. The right-wing is threatening to obstruct any new law by right-wing mayors refusing to implement the legislation much as right-wing state politicians here try to thwart Obama's legislation.
http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/societe/20121010.O…
4.
JDNY | October 11, 2012 at 9:41 am
On October 31st, the French executive branch will vote to agree to pass its draft to the legislative branch.
The government's goal is to have the law passed by the assembly by the end of the year. I haven't heard anything about what to expect in the Senate.
The issue is that the executive branch proposal is watered down from what was expected. The draft will deal only with marriage and not family rights (adoption-parenting-fertility treatments).
There are talks in the assembly to power up the bill with amendments …
Another wait-and-see situation …..
5.
Straight Ally #3008 | October 11, 2012 at 11:10 am
As the French say, it's a fait accompli.
6.
Seth from Maryland | October 11, 2012 at 11:46 am
[youtube _Gz7SvEJnhU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gz7SvEJnhU youtube]
Newest Minnesota AD
7.
Bill S. | October 11, 2012 at 4:10 pm
France is a république laïque: a secular republic, like the United States. The difference is that France actually prides itself on its neutrality towards religion: members of all parties, conservative and liberal, see secularity in government as one of the country's core values. It is unthinkable for an elected representative to reference the Bible when debating a bill: the last time it happened (almost a decade ago), public outrage was so great that the lawmaker was forced to apologize.
The Catholic church will have no influence in this. The Socialist Party has majorities in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate and the marriage equality bill will pass.
8.
Cristina | October 12, 2012 at 7:37 am
I find it beyond rediculous when I hear American politicians quoting the Bible or the question regarding Biden and Ryan being first Catholics to dabate (what does that have to do with anything!?)
If an MP in Canadian Parliament starting quoting Bible in the house in regards to a bill on the environment (as I saw happen in US) they would be asked to resign. And that is coming from a Monarcy Nation (it doesnt get more Christian than having your unelected head of state be chosen by God through bloodline – yet we can still manage to have our elected leaders be a Government seperate from the church)
9.
Kate | October 12, 2012 at 8:47 am
Yet another reason I envy the Canadians.
10.
Gregory in SLC | October 12, 2012 at 9:29 am
On the other hand, by the moderator bringing up their Catholic status allowed Biden to show he can separate church and state.
Biden and Romney debate abortion and the role Catholicism plays in their positions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/b…
11.
Mike Ho. | October 12, 2012 at 12:46 pm
<img src="http://www.newautoquote.us/ikeas/loi.jpg"/>Please keep us updated regarding any progress in France. <img src="http://www.newautoquote.us/xboz/jh.jpg"/>
12.
Mike in Baltimore | October 12, 2012 at 10:45 pm
.co.za is a South African source, not a French source.
I'd more trust a report from a source in France than outside France. For example, there are several English-language newspapers in Paris alone.
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