The National Assembly unanimously adopted a bill aimed at rehabilitating people convicted for homosexuality between 1942 and 1982. This law provides for financial compensation and marks an important step in recognizing the injustices suffered by thousands of victims, including those convicted under the Vichy regime.
A major milestone for recognizing the victims of the repression of homosexuality in France.
The 114 MPs present in the chamber on Thursday, December 18, unanimously approved the bill to rehabilitate people convicted for homosexuality.
This bill, filed on August 6, 2022 by socialist senator Hussein Bourgi, establishes a fixed lump-sum allowance of €10,000, and €150 per day of deprivation of liberty, as well as the reimbursement of paid fines. The Senate had had these financial compensations removed before they were reintegrated by the deputies of the Law Committee this Monday.
Because of their sexual orientation, more than 10,000 people were convicted over 40 years with a prison sentence in 90% of cases. After the promulgation of the Forni Law of August 4, 1982, defended by Gisèle Halimi and Robert Badinter, the “crime of homosexuality” was definitively repealed.
Next step: the Joint Parliamentary Committee
However, this bill will need to be adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (CMP). This committee, which brings together MPs and senators, will have to agree on the modalities, notably the financial aspects. It should be noted that the right-wing majority in the Senate had the compensation component removed and refuses to cover the period between 1942 and 1945 on the pretext that the Republic does not have to “apologize for the crimes of the Vichy regime,” while the homophobic crimes under Pétain are known and documented.
To go further on the subject, we recommend Antoine Idier’s book: Réprimer et réparer, une histoire effacée de l’homosexualité.
