French Open targeted by anti equal marriage protest

Jun 09 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

A male protester attempted to disrupt the final of the French Open tennis competition in Paris this afternoon in opposition to the country’s recently passed equal marriage law.

The masked, bare-chested man, who held up a flare was restrained by security before he was able to interrupt the match between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.

Just before the attempted interruption, two also bare-chested men stood up in the front rows, holding a banner which accused France of going against children’s rights.

Other protesters at the event called on Francois Hollande, the French President, to resign. The protest was brought on by equal marriage, which was recently signed into law by Hollande.

Following months of sometimes violent protests, and a substantial rise in homophobic attacks, French President Hollande signed the law making France the fourteenth country in the world to allow equal marriage last month.

Vincent Autin, a 40-year-old PR firm head, and his husband Bruno Boileau, a 29-year-old government worker, were the first same-sex couple to be married in Montpellier’s town hall last Wednesday afternoon, with security on high alert.

The City’s Mayor Helene Mandroux, officiated, called the ceremony an “historic moment”, and said the couple represented a “united France”.

After the ceremony, whilst opening mail regarding the passing of equal marriage, government officials found threats, including a package of faeces addressed to Montpellier’s mayor.

One of the leaders of France’s vocal anti-equal marriage campaign sent her “best wishes” to Vincent and Bruno, but vowed to keep fighting to now attempt a repeal of the country’s new equal marriage law.

Nadal went on to win the final in straight sets, defeating Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

The tournament’s director Gilbert Ysern said the protests were “pathetic”, and added that he did not want to give them added publicity.