Yann Galut (Left) and Nicolas Bays (Right), both in heterosexual marriages, share a symbolic kiss at a pro-gay marriage march in Paris on Sunday. Photo: Remi Pin/AFP
Straight French MPs share kiss of solidarity
Published: 28 Jan 2013 09:18 GMT+01:00 | Print version
Updated: 28 Jan 2013 09:18 GMT+01:00
Two French politicians caused a stir when they were caught on camera sharing a smack on the lips in Paris on Sunday. The gesture by the heterosexual, married men was "a kiss of solidarity" with the pro-gay marriage movement.
Among the tens of thousands of protestors who took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to support President François Hollande's planned legalization of gay marriage, two have stood out for their particularly bold gesture.
Yann Galut, 46, a National Assembly member for the Cher department in central France, and Nicolas Bays, 35, a member for Pas-de-Calais in the north, locked lips for a brief moment, to loud cheers from nearby demonstrators.
Explaining the little 'bisou' between the Socialist Party politicians, Galut said, "We're both straight, but today, with this 'kiss of solidarity', we wanted to say that when it comes to members of parliament, when it comes to deputies who will be debating this law in two days, we are in solidarity with homosexuals. We are in solidarity with their demands."
There have been widespread congratulations for the symbolic gesture, with one Twitter user typifying the enthusiastic support shown to the two married "stars of the day."
IN PICTURES: Check out more faces from Sunday's march for gay marriage
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