News & Opinion
Husband of World’s Only Gay PM Joins Wives for NATO Spouse Photo
Associated Press
You know the group photo drill: tall people to the back.
May 26 2017 10:00 AM EST
May 26 2017 10:00 AM EST
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You know the group photo drill: tall people to the back.
While some of the aging male leaders of the world gathered for a NATO conference in Belgium, their spouses had a dinner of their own. It was there that Gauthier Destenay, husband of Luxembourg's gay prime minister, Xavier Bettel, unwittingly reminded the world who leads our countries and holds the power.
During a photo op, Destenay appeared with First Lady Melania Trump, First Lady of France Brigitte Macron, First Lady of Turkey Emine Gulbaran Erdogan, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Ingrid Schulerud, Desislava Radeva, Amelie Derbaudrenghien, Mojca Stropnik, and First Lady of Iceland Thora Margret Baldvinsdottir. He's immediately noticeable as the only man in the group, reminding everyone of how few leaders there are in the world who would send husbands to spousal events, whether it be straight women or gay men.
Related | How Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel His Husband
Bettel and Destenay entered a civil partnership in 2010 prior to their marriage in 2015 when Luxembourg legalized gay marriage. According to People, Bettel is the world's only gay head of government following the term ends of former Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir in 2013, and Belgium's Elio Di Rupo in 2015.