is a journalist with a master's degree in philosophy from the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon, France, where he also graduated from the Institute of Political Science. He regularly writes for Philonomist.
Picture: © DR
Paris, 17 January 2024. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at the Senate © Jeanne Accorsini/Sipa
Judging by Gabriel Attal’s appointment, France has no problem having an openly homosexual Prime Minister. Acceptance of homosexuality in public and private spheres could be cause for celebration within the LGBT community. However, several personalities have spoken out to denounce the normalisation of homosexuality. Why?
The Prime Minister is gay, but not overly so. This comment from Mathieu Magnaudeix, Mediapart journalist and member of the French journalists LGBTQI+ network struck a chord. Others qualified Attal as gay but not queer or claimed his homosexuality draws a rainbow veil over his glaring authoritarianism. Several LGBT activists have voiced their distrust in the appointment. What is behind that reaction? Why be so quick to put a damper on the enthusiasm?
The activists believe that in appointing Attal, Emmanuel Macron is making a statement: society accepts homosexuals provided they fit into the mould and don’t make too much of a song and dance about who they are. Homosexuality is alright as long as it’s not militant, says Magnaudeix. “We have the living proof that it is possible to have a gay Prime Minister in France. Provided he doesn’t speak out on LGBTQI+ issues. And that he doesn’t say much about his private life.”
Right turn
Attal is “not overly” gay because he doesn’t make a political statement of his identity. He doesn’t speak out in defence of homosexual rights and has distanced himself from left-wing parties sensitive to the issues. Perfectly integrated into society as it is, Attal is in fact a chemically pure symbol of the ‘normalisation’ of an identity that was once subversive but is becoming less so. Act Up cofounder Didier Lestrade deplored this change back in 2012 in an essay on why gays have switched to the right, backed up by Pablo Stefanoni’s recent research on “homonationalism” outlined in his 2022 essay on how rebellion has become right-wing. The number of high-profile gay men in France’s far-right Rassemblement National – Steeve Briois, Sébastien Chenu and Julien Odoul – are testament to the phenomenon and the votes speak for themselves.
‘Homosexuals now vote in the same way as heterosexuals, if not more right-wing’
Back in the seventies, just to be gay was subversive, and therefore left-wing. Often extremely so. Ho…
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