German foreign minister 'marries' gay partner

[MissHoneychurch]

Germany's gay foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, has formalized his relationship with his partner. Though Germany does not recognize gay marriage, same-sex couples can enter "registered partnerships."

more at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6017460,00.html

[xchrom]

1. Very cool! But I have one question?

What kind of German name is Guido?

[oldironside]

2. It's not so unusual.

I teach in Germany and just looking through the class lists I have on the desk next to me I can see Florian, Dennis, Ole, Lorenz, Tino, Cedric, Mirco, Marcel and Kevin.

Anyway, all the best to Mr and Mr Westerwelle.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Italian, I think. But as Italy is a couple doors down...

... wouldn't that be a fairly common name on the German side?

What with shifting borders , population shifts, migrations, etc.

[MissHoneychurch]

5. It is not uncommon for Germans

to have non-German names. Guido is Italian.

I am not a fan of Westerwelle at all. But it is good to know that in Germany it doesn't matter if a politican is (openly) gay. The mayor of Berlin is gay as well. When he ran for office he said "I'm gay and that is good." I hope one day in the U.S. it won't matter either.

[xchrom]

6. I must confess - I wasn't being really serious.

I feel bad cause everyone answered me seriously.

[qb]

3. Very cool, and what a handsome couple! I look forward to the day when 'married'

no longer requires the absurd quotation marks.