On the last May 17 before 2027, and as Senegal sinks into a broad crackdown targeting queer people, several LGBTQI, feminist, and human rights associations are calling on the French state to strengthen our solidarity with LGBT+ communities around the world.
On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, Transphobia, and Acephobia, and one year ahead of the 2027 presidential election, we, members of French civil society from diverse backgrounds who have chosen France as our adoptive country, wish that France reaffirm its established role as defender of liberties and fundamental rights by increasing its solidarity with LGBTQI communities worldwide.
In the face of the rise of anti-rights and anti-gender movements, supported by the Trump II administration, France must intensify its efforts. The stakes are high for sexual, gender, and sex minorities: the hardening of criminalization in Senegal, violent repression by anti-democratic forces in Burkina Faso, the multiplication of organized attacks in Bangladesh, censorship of freedom of expression in Hungary, and the rollback of hard-won gains in India, to name just a few.
This is not the time to retreat or withdraw. France must keep its historic promise, that of establishing an order in which “the aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man”.
We therefore call on France to:
Increase public development assistance: France bears responsibility in the existential crisis now facing LGBTQI associations worldwide. The decline in official development assistance, observed over the past three years, affects civil society funding and endangers programs that directly and decisively support the lives of many people. We ask France to end these cuts on the one hand, and on the other hand to increase the funding allocated to human rights, gender equality, and the fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly for LGBTQI groups in Francophone Africa, which are among the most under-resourced in the world, as well as in other countries hostile to sexual and gender diversity.
Reaffirm a feminist and inclusive foreign policy: We welcome France’s publication in November of a new feminist diplomacy strategy that reaffirms its commitments to equality, including regarding the rights of LGBT+ people. However, in light of the worsening and multiplication of attacks against LGBTQI communities, we call for their systematic integration as a transversal axis across all of France’s foreign policy. This implies increasing the funding allocated to the International Strategy for a Feminist Diplomacy 2025-2030 and its inclusive implementation, as well as renewing the International Strategy on Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Health for 2027-2031. We specifically request that the Strategy explicitly recognizes in this Strategy the growing attacks against the rights of trans and intersex people.
Strengthen France’s rainbow diplomacy: Support to civil society organizations ensures effective action tailored to local contexts. Despite the current budgetary situation, we wish for France to strengthen the resources allocated to the Ambassador for LGBT+ rights and to the work of French embassies in support of LGBTQI activists worldwide, in line with the worsening global context.
Counter setbacks to international norms: Norms that were once widely accepted two years ago are now being questioned in order to unwind the protections guaranteed by international law for LGBTQI people. We count on France to work to maintain language on diversity, intersectionality, sexual orientation, and gender identity in UN resolutions in the face of attempts by the United States and other states to redefine “gender” and to exclude LGBTQI people.
Make France a refuge for all: France, and in particular LGBTQI communities, must strengthen its welcoming of LGBTQI people threatened in their countries, especially LGBTQI activists who are increasingly in danger. More than ever, France and Europe must remain a land of asylum.
This is not due to excessive pride, nor a claim to a singular historic role. International solidarity is a moral duty, a form of repair for historical wrongs, and a sensible policy to defend harmony between peoples, international security, and multilateralism in the face of rising sovereigntist isolationism and threats of wars.
A different world is possible, but it is in this one: freedom, fraternity, sorority, equality, international solidarity for all!
Signatories:
- Solidarité Internationale LGBTQI
- Inter-LGBT
- SOS homophobie
- STOP Homophobie
- CONTACT France
- Association pour la dépénalisation universelle de l’homosexualité
- Centre européen des Droits de l’Homme
- PASTT (Prévention Action Santé Travail pour les Transgenres)
- Bi’Cause
- Arc Essentiel
- D&J Arc-en-ciel
- Association Sportive Motocycliste de France
- Centre LGBTI+ Lyon
- Fierté Marseille Organisation
- Centre LGBTQIA+ BFC-Dijon
- La Gom’ 53 – Centre LGBTQI+ de la Mayenne
- Afrique Arc-En-Ciel Paris IDF
- CAELIF (Collectif des associations étudiantes LGBT+ d’Ile-de-France)
- Ça va (association pour les personnes LGBTQ+ des pays d’Europe orientale, Caucase et Asie centrale)
- JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France
- China Rainbow Collective Foundation
- Femme Battantes
