Why Gauthier Destenay is making headlines

WHO’S DESTENAY?
He’s the First Gentleman of Luxembourg.

THE FIRST GENTLEMAN?
Yes. An architect by profession, Destenay is the husband of Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel.


Xavier Bettel (L) and Gauthier Destenay

OK, WHAT ABOUT DESTENAY?
Destenay is trending on social media when he appeared alongside other spouses of world leaders at the NATO summit in Brussels.

HOW’S THAT?
Destenay joined the spouses of other NATO leaders for a photo op on Thursday. He joined the likes of US First Lady Melania Trump, Emine Erdogan (Turkey), French First Lady Brigitte Macron and Belgian PM Charles Michel’s partner, Amelie Derbaudrenghien, while their partners were off discussing world matters. Notably, it's the first time a gay husband has been included in a NATO snap of this nature.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
It is. Bettel, is currently the lone openly gay world leader. When same-sex marriage law reforms went into effect in Luxembourg in 2015, the couple were one of the first in the nation to tie the knot.

IS BETTEL THE FIRST OPENLY GAY LEADER?
No. Back in 2009, Iceland’s former PM Johanna Sigurdardottir was the world's first openly gay head of government. Belgium’s Elio Di Rupo was the second. They finished their mandates in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY SETTING EXAMPLES HERE.
Exactly. Back in March, the Luxembourg power-couple were invited to the Vatican to meet with the Pope, which sent a 'powerful message' on the Pope’s position on gay rights. Bettel said he won’t go to any events if Destenay isn’t invited. This NATO photo op is definitely a departure in the right direction from photos past.