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France

Mayor who refuses to marry same-sex couple faces jail

By Mark Singer | ARCANGUES, France -- The mayor of this small suburban city of Bayonne- near the French-Spanish border on the Atlantic coast- is refusing to marry same-sex couples even though a national law legalising same-sex marriage was passed last month.

Jean-Michel Colo, mayor of Arcangues, is refusing to marry same-sex couples;

"I am not discriminating as a same-sex couple is sterile. It’s a parody of equality, it’s a big lie." Colo added, "When people close the door at home, they do what they want. For me, marriage is for a woman and man to have children."

Last week Colo rejected a marriage license application from Guy Martineau-Espel and his long-time partner Jean-Michel Martin last week. The couple who applied for the licence live in Arcangues and plan to sue Colo.

French Interior Minster Manuel Valls said that Colo could face serious consequences including jail time, a fine and removal from his elected office.

"The elected [officials] who do not respect the laws of the republic will risk significant sanctions," Valls said.

Colo vowed not to change his mind, "I will go to the gallows."