A Catholic college suspends the broadcast of Tomboy

Why is the conservative right obsessed with the culture that “perverts” its children? Early last week, parents of students at a Catholic college in Alsatian lobbied for the institution not to broadcast tomboy by Céline Sciamma with her 6ᵉ classes. Released in 2011, this powerful film tells the story of 10-year-old Laure, who has recently arrived in a new city and introduces herself as Mickaël to her classmates. Genuine reflection on gender and identity, the second feature film by Céline Sciamma has been enrolled in Scuola e Cinema since 2012a program supported by the ministries of culture and national education.

“A grave danger to the psychological development” of children

The broadcast of the film should therefore take place on Thursday 4 May, within the framework of the device” Film school that aims to promote the seventh art », details the diocesan directorate of Catholic education in Alsace (DDEC). But, the project was undermined by a posting on the site” Catholic response (presenting itself as a site of “ catholic reform “) who did not welcome this initiative and accused the college of putting seriously endangering psychological development of his students.

The rhetoric used is nothing new. In recent months, several drag shows have been banned in schools around the world, following a similar logic: each time, it is about the supposed protection of children from any brainwashing that cultural objects convey “complicated” topics such as gender, identity or sexuality, it could cause.

The establishment says it’s not censorship

Once again, the Conservatives have won their case. Under the weight of complaints from disgruntled parents, the diocesan leadership bowed without batting an eye, admitting that ” [l]The public was probably too young to deal with such a work », and preferring « avoid disproportionate reactions “. The effort is immense.

When questioned by the Nouvelles d’Alsace newspaper, the institute’s management defended itself against any suspicion of censorship, stating that it simply ” wanted to avoid any new controversy after the previous ones already generated by this film “. In 2013, the far-right political party Civitas did everything to prevent the broadcast of “Tomboy” on artperceiving a dangerous drift At the same time, several colleges had deprogrammed the film, already inundated with complaints from parents of students “concerned” for their teenage children. Proof that nothing has changed in 10 years.