France's Macron embraces Brazil's Lula — and the memes poking fun at their 'wedding'

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — If social media is to be believed, French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to Brazil that ended Thursday left him swooning.

Pictures showed him and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ambling through the Amazon and posing beneath the soaring canopy in white button-down shirts. Then there they were again, standing close and clasping hands on a boat as Macron looked adoringly at Lula, both leaders' faces lit by a gentle sun.

There were hugs and handshakes aplenty; smiles and selfies, too. Lula on Thursday bestowed the highest honor for a non-citizen on Macron, draping a medal around his neck.

Brazilian social media gobbled up the bonhomie with gusto, and users posted photos of the duo that many said looked more like a wedding album than a state visit. On the last evening of his trip, Macron joined in.

“Some people compared the images of my visit to Brazil with those of a wedding, and I say to them: It was a wedding!” he posted on X along with a photo of himself and Lula photoshopped onto the movie poster from “La La Land” in place of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. “France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France!”

Lula replied to his post with the flags of their two nations and an emoji of swirling hearts.

Their meeting represented something of a rapprochement after relations soured between Macron and Lula's predecessor, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, as Amazon deforestation surged to a 15-year high on his watch.

And during 2023, the first year of his latest presidential term, Lula irked European leaders with claims that both Ukraine and Russia had decided to go to war and that the U.S. and European Union were “stimulating” the fighting. That drew sharp rebukes from both.

Macron's absence had also been noticed at the Amazon Summit in the Brazilian city of Belem last year. He instead sent France's ambassador to Brazil, representing its Amazonian territory of French Guiana. Deforestation in Lula’s first year in office fell by about half, to a five-year low.

The first day of Macron's visit took him precisely to Belem, which will host the COP30 climate conference in 2025. He and Lula announced a plan to spend 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in the Amazon, including parts of the rainforest in French Guiana. The next day, they launched a submarine built with French technology at a shipyard outside Rio de Janeiro.

It wasn't all roses. Addressing executives in Sao Paulo, Macron criticized the trade deal that Lula is pushing for the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc, saying it is “terrible” and outdated and needs reworking to take climate change into account. Macron has been the most outspoken among European leaders in opposing the trade deal.

Lula told reporters Thursday that the proposal as it stands is much more promising.

Before Macron's departure, Lula gifted him with five of Brazil's best cheeses, so that “he can tell me what he thought of them,” the Brazilian leader wrote Thursday night on X.

Macron, for his part, didn't immediately comment.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and France's President Emmanuel Macron pose for photos at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, look up at a canopy of trees after arriving on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron pose for photos on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres).

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks as Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes photos, during a ceremony on the Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, presents Brazilian first lady Rosangela da Silva with the French honor, the Legion of Honor, as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looks on at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, flies a drone, on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and France's President Emmanuel Macron pose for photos during a welcome ceremony for Macron at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian first lady Rosangela da Silva takes a selfie with France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, and her husband Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the launch ceremony of the Tonelero submarine, made in Brazil with French technology, in Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Macron is on a three-day visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, arrive on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend the launch ceremony of the Tonelero submarine, made in Brazil with French technology, in Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Macron is on a three-day visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, hugs Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the launch ceremony of the Tonelero submarine constructed in Brazil with French technology in Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Macron is on a three-day visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, flies a drone, accompanied by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right center, first lady Rosangela da Silva, and Gov. Helder Barbalho, left, on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, leads French President Emmanuel Macron through an island path as they arrive in Combu, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Macron is on a three-day official visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and France's President Emmanuel Macron pose for photos at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend the launch ceremony of a submarine constructed in Brazil with French technology in Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Macron is on a three-day visit to Brazil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive on Combu Island, near Belem, Para state, Brazil, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres).

The fight to allow same-sex marriage and gay clergy has defined much of the last half-century for major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., mirroring in many ways the broader fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in civic life.

Within these theologically moderate-to-progressive Protestant groups, the decades of wrestling over whether to reaffirm or overturn longstanding anti-LGBTQ+ church policies sowed deep divisions throughout the denominations. It's caused hurt feelings, broken relationships, disciplinary church trials and schisms.

The United Methodist Church, which stripped out its bans and related social teachings over the past two weeks, is the last of the major mainline church bodies to go through this process.

This timeline highlights key milestones and flashpoints within the UMC, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Church of Christ, as well as in civic life.

June 28, 1969 Police raid the Stonewall Inn, an underground gay bar in New York City. It sparked a rebellion and fueled the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

April 1972 The United Methodist Church has first public debate on homosexuality at a General Conference. The conference approves non-binding Social Principles, declaring the "practice of homosexuality ... incompatible with Christian teaching.” It also says “persons of homosexual orientation are persons of sacred worth.”

June 25, 1972 William R. Johnson becomes the first openly gay person to be ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ.

September 1979 Episcopal Church General Convention approves resolution saying it is “not appropriate for this church to ordain a practicing homosexual or any person who is engaged in heterosexual relations outside of marriage.” It also says homosexual people have an equal claim on the church’s love and acceptance.

May 1984 United Methodist General Conference approves rule declaring that “self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve.”

Feb. 28, 1994 The federal “ don’t ask, don’t tell ” policy goes into effect, allowing gay and lesbian people to serve in the U.S. military only if they don’t openly acknowledge their sexual orientation. A prior policy barred them altogether.

May 1996 Episcopal Bishop Walter C. Righter goes on trial in the church for heresy for ordaining an openly gay man as a deacon. He is later acquitted.

July 5, 1996 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly bans noncelibate gay clergy, requiring church officers to live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.”

Sept. 21, 1996 The federal Defense of Marriage Act is signed into law, limiting federal recognition of marriage to heterosexual couples.

June 7, 2003 Gene Robinson is elected the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Nov. 18, 2003 Massachusetts becomes the first to legalize same-sex marriage statewide.

July 4, 2005 United Church of Christ General Synod affirms marriage rights for all couples regardless of gender.

June 22, 2009 The Anglican Church in North America forms. It is led by a breakaway group of mostly former Episcopalians who disagreed with the Episcopal Church’s decision to allow an openly gay person to be a bishop, and other theological issues.

August 21, 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Churchwide Assembly allows partnered gay and lesbian people to be pastors.

August 27, 2010 The Rev. Jane Spahr is found guilty in a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) trial on misconduct charges for presiding over same-gender marriage ceremonies.

August 27, 2010

North American Lutheran Church, a conservative denomination formed in response to liberal trends in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is constituted.

May 10, 2011 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ratifies amendment that opens the door to LGBTQ clergy, removing a requirement that clergy “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.”

Sept. 20, 2011 “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law repealed.

January 2012 The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians forms. Conservative congregations joined this and older breakaway denominations in response to liberal trends in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

May 31, 2013 R. Guy Erwin becomes the first openly gay bishop elected in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

November 2013

The Rev. Frank Schaefer is found guilty in a United Methodist Church trial for performing his son’s same-sex wedding in 2007.

March 17, 2015 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ratifies amendment to its constitution calling marriage a “unique commitment between two people,” no longer limited to a couple consisting of one man and one woman.

June 26, 2015 United States Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

July 1, 2015 The Episcopal Church permits any couple the rite of matrimony.

July 16, 2016 Karen Oliveto becomes the United Methodist Church’s first openly lesbian bishop.

May 8, 2021 Megan Rohrer becomes the first openly transgender bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

May 1, 2022 Global Methodist Church launches. This is a breakaway group that left the United Methodist Church over its lack of enforcement of its bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriage.

April 23 to May 3, 2024 United Methodists dismantle their denomination’s anti-LGBTQ policies and teachings, including lifting bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A milestone reached in mainline Protestant churches' decades-old disputes over LGBTQ inclusion

A milestone reached in mainline Protestant churches' decades-old disputes over LGBTQ inclusion

FILE - David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. When the United Methodist Church removed anti-LGBTQ language from its official rules in recent days, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in mainline Protestant denominations. The moves sparked joy from progressive delegates, but the UMC faces many of the same challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations that took similar routes, from schisms to friction with international churches to the long-term aging and shrinking of their memberships. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)