PARIS, May 16, 2006 (AFP) - André Labarrère, socialist mayor of the southern town of Pau and one of the first French politicians to declare his homosexuality, died Tuesday of cancer at the age of 78, the Socialist Party (PS) said.

A popular local figure famed for speaking bluntly, Labarrère was elected mayor of Pau in 1971 and never left the post. He also served several terms in the National Assembly and was a minister under President François Mitterrand.

Of his homosexuality he said: "To live as a homosexual is very difficult. When I declared myself gay it was to help young people, to say to them: look, you are homosexual. Accept the way you are. You'll see the world doesn't come to an end."

But Labarrère opposed gay marriages, saying: "There are enough cuckolds in the world not to add the gays."

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news