several LGBT + associations boycott a “pride dinner” organized by the government

Their plates will not have moved. The members of several LGBT+ associations have decided to boycott a “pride dinner” organized by the Minister for Gender Equality Isabelle Lonvis-Rome, Wednesday July 20. With this gesture, SOS Homophobia and the Association of homoparental families wanted to protest against the continued government of his colleague Caroline Cayeux, challenged in particular for her homophobic statements during the debates on marriage for all..

“Excuses are not enough. We need sanctions, his departure from the government”, Lucile Jomat, president of SOS Homophobia, told AFP. “We will mobilize to defend our subjects during working meetings with the government, but we do not want photos with petit fours with a minister when the government puts up with the homophobic speech of a minister”declared for his part Alexandre Urwicz, the president of the association of homoparental families.

In a statement to AFP, Isabelle Lonvis-Rome says she understands “the emotion and anger of certain associations following the unfortunate remarks made by the minister delegate in charge of local authorities. As I have already said, it is conservatism that is against nature”. This “pride dinner”, which was a first, reflected his “willingness to work in close synergy with LGBT+ rights associations” and “to co-construct public policies with them (…) to strengthen real equality and the fight against anti-LGBT+ discrimination”a cause “made a priority for the whole of government”she pleaded.

Stop Homophobia and Inter-LGBT also declined the invitation citing scheduling reasons. “We prefer to focus on work meetings to advance our topics. This is not our agenda priority”has indicated Matthieu Gatipon-Bachette, spokesperson forInter-LGBT.

Conversely, other associations responded favorably to the invitation, such as the Association of Gay and Lesbian Parents (APGL) or GayLib. About 40 people were expected, according to the ministry.