France's 1st gay married couple to attend TA Pride
Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau to "Honeymoon" in Tel Aviv; couple invited by Tel Aviv's Global & Tourism Company.
By YONI COHENVincent Autin (R) and Bruno Boileau kiss(photo credit: REUTERS/Jerard Julien/Pool)
The first gay couple to be legally wed in France will spend the upcoming weekend in Tel Aviv and will attend the city's Gay Pride Parade as part of their Honeymoon celebrations, a Tel Aviv Municipality spokesperson announced Thursday.Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau were invited by Tel Aviv's Global & Tourism Company. Tel Aviv promotes gay rights as a pluralistic city and is happy to host the newly-wed couple, wishing them a big "mazal tov," the statement read.The couple is being hosted by the French Embassy in Israel and the Diaghilev Live Art Hotel.Not even France's biggest street protests in years - or a smoke bomb lobbed toward the city hall - could stop Vincent and Bruno getting married.The first gay couple to wed since France became the 14th country to permit same-sex marriage, exchanged vows and rings last week to cheers and applause at a city hall ringed by riot police."I pronounce you joined in matrimony in the name of the law," said Helene Mandroux, mayor of the southern of city of Montpellier, which styles itself France's most "gay-friendly."Organizers of Tel Aviv Gay Pride are expecting over 20,000 foreign tourists to arrive for the pride events, which will carry on throughout the month of June.The main event will be the central Gay Pride March, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7. This year the Tel Aviv Pride Parade is marking 20 years of pride in the city.Reuters contributed to this report
