Gay First Gentleman of Luxembourg pictured with NATO wives
A viral photo featuring the openly gay ‘First Gentleman’ of Luxembourg with wives of world leaders has been met with delight online.
Gauthier Destenay, who is married to Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, appeared alongside Melania Trump, the First Lady of the USA, and Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, in a photo taken at this week’s NATO summit.
First Gentleman Destenay, an architect from Belgium, married the Prime Minister in 2015.
Xavier Bettel and Gauthier Destenay at their wedding (AFP/ John Thys/Getty Images)
Prime Minister Bettel is currently the only national leader in a gay marriage.
They married just two months after Luxembourg introduced same-sex marriage.
Destenay’s presence at the NATO summit delighted many Twitter users.
Bettel and Destenay’s wedding was not the first gay wedding to feature a national leader.
In 2010 Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, then the Prime Minister of Iceland, became the first leader to marry his same-sex partner.
Bettel, who is leader of the centre-right Democratic Party, publically came out as gay in 2008.
Since taking power he has played down the significance of his sexuality, saying “what happens at home remains private”.
A poll of Luxembourg voters in 2013 showed 83% supporting gay marriage.
Husband of Luxembourg's gay Prime Minister joins the NATO WAGs. ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/H1P4uROyX8
— Anthony (@alloveranthony) May 25, 2017
My New hero #gauthierDestenay First husband from Luxembourg . À big step for equality #symbolism #NATOsummit #firstwivesclub pic.twitter.com/p5YWv3OFjG— Bru London (@Brubrulondon) May 26, 2017
Although Bettel is currently the only national leader in a gay marriage, he may soon be joined by Leo Varadkar, who is openly gay and on course to become Ireland’s first openly gay Prime Minister.
Destaney reportedly proposed to the Prime Minister just weeks after the Luxembourg Parliament approved same-sex marriage legislation.
Earlier in the day at the NATO summit, Destenay joined other spouses in a tour of the Magritte Museum, which is devoted to the works of Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte.
