The mayor of Montpellier cemented her place in history when she married the first gay couple in France on May 29. But now Helene Mandroux is making headlines for a different reason: The French mayor has received countless threats, including one with feces, over her part in the marriage.
According to Montpellier daily newspaper Midi Libre, since performing the wedding, Mandroux has received many letters that contain insults and threats expressing opposition to gay marriage in France. One of the packages mailed to the French official also contained feces, municipal officers discovered.
Passage of the landmark law has spurred intense protests in the country. Prior to the legislation's approval by the National Assembly, France saw a marked rise in violent attacks on gay couples. Legislators who voiced their support for gay marriage were also threatened.
In one of the more alarming incidents, Claude Bartolone, the head of the National Assembly, received a letter containing gunpowder.
Though the mailed threats have become more commonly associated with gay marriage opposition in France, a number of French politicians have received similar packages throughout the years when they have expressed their sentiments on a controversial piece of legislation.
Despite the many threats and protests, French President Francois Hollande signed the France's "marriage for all" legislation into law on May 18; the same day, Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau signed up to wed in Montpellier.
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