Chirac attacks gay marriage plan

Chirac attacks gay marriage plan

PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, in a speech at the weekend, criticised a plan by the French government to legalise gay marriages. The Socialist- led National Assembly is scheduled to take up legislation approved this week by the government that would create a "contract of social union" in France. The contract would authorise mayors to perform marriage-like ceremonies and would grant homosexual couples the social and fiscal rights now enjoyed by married people.