For the first time in France, a mayor begins his gender transition during his mandate

This is the first in France. Estelle Szabo, mayor of the city of Estevelles in the Pas-de-Calais, has begun her transition to full-time. From this Friday, April 14, she can officiate as a woman. A decision that was supported by the citizens of the city, but also by the city council, which after a vote authorized her to carry out her public duties as a woman.

“It is a continuity in my life path, in my political path. On Thursday morning I will present things to the employees of the municipality and communicate with the population, and from Friday I will have my appearance as I wish and I will exercise as mayor of Estevelles “reacted the 63-year-old elected after the vote.

Strong support from residents

However, Estelle Szabo hesitated for a long time before starting her transition. A choice that resided between “commit suicide or guess”as he confided to our colleagues of Information about France. “Leaving would have been an escape” he said before the city council. So to the question: “Do you support the current mayor of Estevelles in his transidentity journey? »the answer was affirmative with a very large majority, with 14 votes in favor and 4 abstentions, out of 18 voters.

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“I thought it was a good message that fellow citizens, elected officials were sending, Estelle says. And perhaps this is the message I bring today, is that we can assume public and political functions making a difference. “said a Information about France. He also says he receives many messages of support from the inhabitants of his municipality.

From now on, Estelle Szabo wishes to devote herself fully to her work as mayor of Estevelles, where she has served since 2016. “I just want to convey a message (…) is that you can be a person with a difference, not necessarily always accepted today, and exercise a political function”told theFrench media agency.