French Anti-Gay Activist Poster Depicting Justice Minister Christiane Taubira as Gorilla Causes Viral Outrage

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, the main sponsor of France's marriage equality bill, has been the main target of the anti-gay Manif Pour Tous activists over the past months. But they have inspired outrage and anger with a viral image posted to Twitter this week, which depicted the French-Guiana-born official as a gorilla, Euronews reports:

The picture, posted on Monday night, was retweeted and commented massively by anti-gay rights activists and by both outraged anti- and pro-same sex marriage activists.

Among the reactions, one user notes “[The anti-same sex marriage crowd] go from presumed homophobes to proven racists.” One same-sex marriage opponent tweeted: “You are completely discrediting the Manif Pour Tous with this horrible image!” Defenders of the poster said it was supposed to be humoristic and ironic and that the monster refers to a “monument of American cinema, the devastating [King Kong]” and the “destruction” the bill will bring to the families.

On Tuesday morning, the owner of the Twitter account where the picture was initially posted deleted it, before explaining: “I confirm that I acted on my own, without racist intention. Sorry if it has hurt. I withdraw the picture but it is a misunderstanding. I used an already existing monster picture.” To make further amends, he then retweeted a message from an official anti-same-sex marriage organisation stating “The only poster for the May 26 demo is this one.”

Gay French Mayor Sent Bullets in the Mail After Newspaper Prints Plans of His Marriage

Thierry Speitel, mayor of the town of Sigolsheim in the Haut-Rhin area of eastern France, was sent bullets in the mail this week, The Local reports:

The threat comes after Speitel gave a recent interview to the local newspaper Derniers Nouvelles d’Alsace in which he talked about the probability he would marry his partner and the prospect of them adopting children.

He also slammed the homophobic incidents that have taken place in France over recent months, that have been blamed on the poisonous atmosphere created by some of the more extreme opponents of gay marriage.

Along with the bullets, Speitel, a practicing Catholic, was sent a copy of his newspaper interview, which contained scrawled handwritten homophobic insults.

He is not the only elected official to have received threats in recent month.

Claude Bartolone, the head of French Parliament, was terrorized with a letter containing gunpowder and similar threats shortly before the body voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1357

TRUTHER: Bostonian's work-unfriendly call-out of a truther with Alex Jones' InfoWars.

FRANCE: The first gay wedding fair.

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MARRIAGE NEWS WATCH: AFER's Matt Baume with the latest including R.I. and Delaware.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Sportrait: Xavier Delarue

Xavier Delarue is a French basketball player for Saint-Ouen in Seine-Saint-Denis. He's also a popular contestant on Secret Story, France's iteration of Big Brother.

These are new shots by photographer Fred Goudon for the underwear fashion label Frenchpaks. Enjoy.

One more, AFTER THE JUMP...

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News: Netflix, Bradley Manning, Vietnam, Sarah Palin

Netflix's increasingly valuable stock has made the company's CEO, Reed Hastings, a very, very rich man.

LGBT activist Michael Petrelis is one of those who is calling for a protest in San Francisco tomorrow over the SF Pride/Bradley Manning controversy: "'Our message to SF Pride is that they should make Manning a grand marshal of this year's Pride march and celebration because of his brave act of whistleblowing against the military industrial complex,' said Petrelis. 'We are fed up with marriage and military concerns sucking the oxygen out of what used to be a queer movement and Pride march and celebration about social justice for queers.'"

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First gay wedding fair held in France.

Compelling story about a popular gay ex-mayor of a small Texas town who gave up his rising career for love: "He followed a path blazed by hundreds of gay Americans each year, who have found that U.S. immigration law offers no easy way for them to live legally with foreign-born partners."

Vietnamese series My Best Gay Friends is a big hit. Says creator: "I thought it would only interest Vietnam's gay community -- but we're hearing that parents, grandparents, whole families watch and love the shows and long for new episodes."

The Associated Press asks if lesbians are more accepted than gay men.

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44 Arrested at Anti-Gay Marriage Protest in City of Lyon, France: VIDEOS

Police reported that 44 people were arrested in the eastern city of Lyon, France following yesterday's passage of marriage equality.

Watch four videos showing right-wing anger there, AFTER THE JUMP...