Speaker at UNIQUES, the equality festival that aims to make inclusion themes concrete and accessible to everyone, Cannelle Danzelle, cofounder of Vibes, the first LGBTQ+ social network that builds real-life connections through cultural, sporting and festive events, answered our questions about representation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.
When did you realize that your difference could be a strength?
Cannelle Danzelle: It took me a long time to realize it, because I suffered for a long time from being different and being pushed aside. Then, as I began to truly be myself, I saw people reach out to me not in spite of my difference, but because of it. It helped me forge connections, friendships, and even today professional opportunities. What used to isolate me became my greatest strength.
What are you most proud of today?
Having created a social space that our community was sorely missing, and that I would have dreamed of discovering at 18. Knowing that Vibes can positively alter life trajectories is already a huge source of pride. But seeing that it also benefits my loved ones, my friends, and not just strangers, adds another dimension to what we have created.
What do you think is the greatest inequality that still affects LGBT people?
For me, one of the greatest inequalities lies in the lack of social connection. We often talk about precarity, access to housing, healthcare or work, but we forget that many of these difficulties begin with rejection: from family, from friends, sometimes from one’s professional environment. When you are less surrounded and less supported, all the other challenges become inevitably harder to overcome.
Which LGBT representation had the biggest impact on you growing up?
The most impactful thing for me, ultimately, was the lack of representations. We more easily accept difference when it is carried by exceptional figures, artists, or people who have accomplished great things. I grew up without really seeing lesbians in positions of responsibility, who build their relationships, their families, their careers, and a life that looks like them. It is also these representations that allow us to project ourselves.
What message would you like to send to a young LGBT person who feels out of place?
Your situation may seem insurmountable today, but it improves with time. My advice is: look around you, because you are not alone. There are so many more people who look like you than you think. And once you find them, you will feel surrounded and at ease.
>> The UNIQUES festival, of which têtu is a partner, will take place on September 12 at the Cité du cinéma, in Saint-Denis. Free admission.
