Why LGBTQI+ organizations are rejecting the government’s new anti-LGBT hate plan

On Monday 10 July, the government presented its National Anti-LGBT+ Equality, Anti-Hate and Discrimination Plan 2023-2026. Prompted (from afar) during the development of the plan, the associations Acceptess-T, Act Up Paris, AIDES Paris, Les désobéissan.tes, Ardhis, OUTrans and Inter-LGBT denounced in a joint press release a “ exploitation of their participation to give the illusion of a facade co-building between the government and the associations “. They also regret the lack of ambition and political will of the announced measures.

Trans people, excluded from the government plan

First point of friction, the associations regret a lack of consideration of their claims. They specifically complain the invisibility of transidentities » : Indeed, this new government plan does not include satisfactory measures to combat transphobia. Illustration of this inertia: the lack of commitment on the diversion of the change of marital status », but considered a priority by the players in the sector.

Furthermore, the associations point out that the previous government plan dedicated an entire section to it, and they are concerned about this step backwards which does not take the measure of urgency: ” trans people are the main target of LGBTI+phobia attacks “.

Questioned by our colleagues from LliberationVéronique Godet, co-president of SOS Homophobia, develops:

Since 2016, LGBT+ associations have been fighting for a simpler and freer procedure. Not wanting to protect people and make them recognize their rights, we undermine them. Especially right now when there is an increase in hate against transgender people. For me it is a lack of courage on the part of Matignon towards the Ministry of Justice and the Interior, which are not in favor of this measure.

Véronique Godet in Liberation, 10 July 2023

The associations also regret the fact that no measures are foreseen for ” facilitate access to the law for asylum seekers or binational LGBTI+ couples “.

“This plan goes against LGBTI+ people”

Another fixed point for the associations is the impression that their participation has been exploited. Indeed, the press release denounces the conditions for drafting the plan, the work meetings scheduled at the last minute and the lack of visibility on any deadline or exit date.

According to the associations, the release of the plan, originally scheduled for May 17 (world day against homophobia) has been postponed indefinitely, and the associations would have discovered the definitive content on July 10. And then, surprise: their requests, produced after hours of work and writing, have fallen by the wayside.

The sentence is therefore unappealable. “ Based on the principle that what is done for us, without us, is done against us, this plan that has not been developed with the people concerned goes against LGBTI+ people “, they conclude.

A hasty job

While the associations point to some encouraging measures, they deplore the fact that this new plan did not incorporate the lessons of the first, believing that this work should have been based on a “ independent evaluation of the previous plan (2020-2023) “. A vision also shared by Véronique Godet, in the columns of Publication :

The proposed funding is attractive but has yet to be effective. We struggle to keep our volunteers who, as I told you, do the work of the state. We no longer have enough members of the association both to welcome young people in LGBT+ centers and to raise public awareness. We are forced to reject certain sensitizations in the school environment because we are no longer enough. This is the second anti-LGBT hate plan since 2020, but we do not see the effectiveness of the former’s measures.

A shoddy job and therefore not up to the urgency. In its annual report released on May 16, SOS Homophobia found a 26% increase in LGBT physical attacks between 2021 and 2022, or one every two days. In the words of Véronique Godet, “As always, political issues come before people’s rights”.

Do you like our articles? You will love our newsletters! Sign up for free on this page.