Two women circumvent French ban on same-sex marriage to say "I do"

Sep 13, 2011, 16:34 GMT

Paris - Two women were legally married over the weekend in France, despite gay marriage being banned in the country, an organization that campaigns for gay rights announced Tuesday.

The French chapter of IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) announced that its vice president, Sophie Lichten, and her partner, Sarah, said 'I do' in a civil ceremony in the town of Montreuil, near Paris, on Saturday.

The marriage was possible because the French state considers, Lichten, who is transsexual, to be a man, Comite IDAHO explained in a statement.

'Transsexuals are discriminated against in France. Often the state refuses to give them identity papers that correspond to their true sex,' Comite IDAHO said.

'Paradoxically, it's this discrimination that allowed Sophie Lichten, a male citizen in the eyes of the law, to marry her partner, in a completely legal manner.'

The marriage was was not the first such marriage, the group said, relating that a couple called Elise and Stephanie, one of whom is a transsexual, tied the knot in the eastern city of Nancy in June.

France does not allow gay marriage.

The closest thing in France is the civil union known as PACS, which allows two adults of the same or the opposite sex to form a union, principally for tax purposes.