MARIGOT:--- The Gendarmes are currently investigating the protest that was held in front of the Collectivity on October 12th, 2013 when the first same sex marriage was taking place on the island. The French State made same sex marriage legal in May 2013.
Over two hundred persons gathered in front of the Collectivity on Saturday October 12th, 2103 denouncing the first same sex marriage claiming its infringing on the rights of locals. Some of the protestors had placards while one held a hand microphone denouncing what he said is disrespecting marriage since marriage according to him should be between a man and a woman. The speaker who is well known on St. Martin further stated that soon the gay people would want to get married in the churches on the island and that too would be a disrespect. The protestors went as far as calling on first Vice President Guillaume Arnell to resign and not perform his duties claiming that the people of St. Martin was not consulted before the law was passed in the French State.
According to information reaching SMN News, someone filed a complaint with the Gendarmes which initiated the investigation. During the protest which the protestors claimed was supposed to be peaceful bottles and rocks were flung after the gendarmes and the car that took the two men away after they tied the knot.
SMN News further learnt that two vehicles were damaged during the protest but that could not be verified.
It should be noted that the same sex marriage law known as "Mariage pour Tous" was published in the official journal on May 18th, 2013. The law is applicable to the State, Collectivities and Communes that fall under the French jurisdiction. The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Affairs made known via a memo on June 13th, 2013 outlining the consequences anyone can face if they refuse to marry two persons of the same sex. Elected officials or persons working in the civil registry could face five years prison sentence and Euros 75,000.00 fine if they refuse to conduct a marriage of same sex. Persons holding political offices can also be suspended.
