Paris in the springtime is full of life, flowers, rainbow cafes and gay marriage. LGBT life here is high quality and well organized but not without some persistent opposition. From 2001-14 Bertrand Delanoë was happily the openly gay mayor of Paris. During his tenure gay marriage was approved by the government, in May 2013.
France has traditionally been fairly tolerant in matters of private morality including homosexuality and this is reflected in the country’s legislation. Any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment or service, public or private, has been prohibited since 1985. Gay and lesbian people are free to serve in the Armed Forces. On December 2004, the National Assembly approved legislation which made homophobic or sexist comments illegal. In 1997, 55% of the French considered homosexuality “an acceptable lifestyle”. In 2006, 78% considered homosexuality “as good as any other lifestyle”. The former mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, publicly revealed his homosexuality in 1998, before his first election in 2001. Gay marriage is now legal in France.
Included in this index are two non-gay stories, both located in France, (Baccarat Crystal and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War1) as well as six non-gay-related photo galleries that relate to the Meuse-Argonne region and the death of my uncle, a US soldier in World War One.
Name: France
Population: 64473000
Capital: Paris - Pop. 2173000
Area: 674843 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: French
Religion: Secular, Catholicism
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 33
The 1918 Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France during World War I and the Death of Uncle John
Introduction Real Ghosts: this is the story of tracing the footsteps of an American uncle/soldier killed in World War 1, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of Sept-Nov 1918. I’m tempted to call my recent visit to northeast France ‘a trip to bountiful’ because, like the 1985 movie, the journey involves gripping memories that hold close to
France’s Baccarat Crystal: Reality and Legend
Intro: A visit to the old town of Baccarat, France reveals both old world craftsmanship as well as modern but modest working life. The world famous Baccarat crystal is made here by artisans using old formulas to create great works of art.