posted on February 10, 2004 06:41:06 PM newFrenchwoman Marries Her Dead Boyfriend
The Associated Press
Published: Feb 10, 2004
NICE, France (AP) - Dressed in a demure black suit, a 35-year-old Frenchwoman married her dead boyfriend Tuesday, an exchange of vows that required authorization from President Jacques Chirac.
Under French law, Christelle Demichel became both bride and widow in the ceremony, which was performed at Nice City Hall on the French Riviera. The groom, a former policeman identified as Eric, was killed by a drunk driver in September 2002.
Demichel told LCI television she understood "it could seem shocking to marry someone who is dead," but her feelings for him had not dimmed. His body was not present for the ceremony.
Such marriages are legal if the living spouse can prove the couple had intended to marry before the other died. The French president must also authorize it.
And we sit here arguing over same-sex marriage??? Ooh-la-la!
posted on February 10, 2004 06:49:46 PM new
But she will probably have his pension or other benefits of being a widow. I can't begrudge it even if it is unnatural.
posted on February 10, 2004 07:22:32 PM new
Well, Gravid, I found myself wondering if dead gay people could marry each other after I read that article. (Still pre-occupied with the living, obviously.) But your insurance skew lends something more than a shaking head to this story. Undoubtedly you're right -- more to it (financially) than meets the eye...
Profe, either my computer is speaking in tongues or that sound clip you linked is so garbled I can't understand it. (Tried it three times. ) Care to give me an online transcript?
posted on February 10, 2004 07:39:35 PM new
it's a sound clip from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"...perhaps the greatest film ever made...French knight atop the castle parapet taunting the English knights at the gate below ..."go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person!!"
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posted on February 10, 2004 08:30:19 PM new
hahaha!
Yes, I know I'm going to hell for never having watched much Monty Python! I like to think I redeemed myself somewhat by adoring The Two Fat Ladies and Absolutely Fabulous.
posted on February 11, 2004 08:18:52 AM new
If gay marriage becomes legal and unremarkable I do predict huge uninternded consequences.
People will marry because they want to go into a new business together and they can get cheaper insurance or one can keep his day job and cover the other as a spouse.
If people are engaged in a criminal enterprise they can marry because you can not be compelled to testify against your spouse.
The way people live together without marriage I can see a couple men married and actually living with their girl friends but married to their business partner.
It would simplify survivorship in a business partnership. All kinds of possibilities actually.
