Interior Minister suspends politician from mayor's post for conducting gay marriage
Associated Press

PARIS - France's interior minister on Tuesday suspended a leading Green party lawmaker from his job as mayor of a southwestern town for one month for conducting a homosexual marriage in defiance of authorities.

Noel Mamere, mayor of Begles, near Bordeaux, officiated at a June 5 marriage between two men, saying he wanted to take a step toward ending discrimination of all kinds.

The order from Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin was based on a law allowing the suspension of mayors who "gravely misunderstand their duties," the ministry said in a statement.

The order was to take effect as soon as Mamere was formally notified.