Faeces and threats sent to French mayor who officiated first same-sex wedding

The mayor of the French city Montpellier, who officiated the first same-sex wedding in the country last week, has received threats in the post, including a package of faeces.

Vincent Autin, a 40-year-old PR firm head, and his husband Bruno Boileau, a 29-year-old government worker, were married in Montpellier’s town hall on Wednesday afternoon.

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

According to Montpellier daily newspaper Midi Libre, whilst opening mail regarding the passing of equal marriage, government officials found threats, including a package of faeces addressed to the mayor.

Mayor Mandroux has since married another same-sex couple, Rouesne Saunier and Carole Leonard, on Saturday.

Thierry Speitel, mayor of Sigolsheim in eastern France was forced to make a complaint to police after being sent bullets in the post following an interview he gave during which he discussed equal marriage and adoption.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Claude Bartolone, also received a threatening letter containing ammunition powder, asking him to delay the vote on equal marriage.

Socialist deputies Sylviane Bulteau and Hugues Fourage also received letters from anti-equal marriage extremists, which threatened their families with kidnap, the equal marriage bill was not withdrawn.

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, two weeks ago.

Last Sunday, at the end of a day of tense, but relatively peaceful anti-equal marriage protests, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets of Paris, riot police clashed with hundreds of violent demonstrators.

One of the leaders of France’s vocal anti-equal marriage campaign comedienne Frigide Barjot, since sent her “best wishes” to the couple, but has vowed to keep fighting to now attempt a repeal of the country’s new equal marriage law.