French action for LGBT+ rights

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Discrimination, violence and anti-LGBT+ hatred remain a reality in France and around the world. France has been at the forefront of defending the rights of LGBT+ people. In 2008, it launched the first campaign for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality, with a declaration at the United Nations General Assembly signed by 66 countries. France is a pioneer in this field, having appointed an Ambassador in 2022 to pass on its messages to States, the European Union, international organizations and civil society. Above and beyond universal decriminalization of homosexuality, which remains the priority, France seeks to encourage total respect for all rights of LGBT+ people. The French diplomatic network remains committed, and a fund has been created to support NGOs working on these issues worldwide.

What does LGBT+ mean?

The term “LGBT” was coined in the 1990s. The term gay (homosexual), considered too restrictive, was replaced by this acronym which includes both sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, bisexual) and gender identity (transgender, non-binary). It is accompanied by a “+” to encompass other sexual orientations, identities and gender expressions and sexual characteristics, including intersex people.

Decriminalization and the protection of the rights of LGBT+ people is a priority of French foreign policy

While more than 130 members of the United Nations have decriminalized homosexuality, consensual homosexual relations are still a crime in 61 countries, with 11 [1] of them including the death penalty among applicable sentences.

Illust: LGBT+ rights around, 94.9 kb, 1440x1440
LGBT+ rights around the world

France advocates for the repeal of all legal provisions that criminalize homosexuality and transidentity. It does this in the name of human rights, which all States have committed to through a number of international texts, particularly the right to privacy and family life, freedom from discrimination, and the right to liberty and security of person, which means that nobody should be arbitrarily arrested or subjected to mistreatment.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (17 May 2024)

France also advocates, in addition to decriminalization, for total respect of all rights of LGBT+ people, particularly freedom of expression and association, which far too often are impeded by laws forbidding the discussion of LGBT+ issues in public spaces or preventing NGOs working on such issues from carrying out their activity. It encourages States not only to lift these legal restrictions but also to adopt laws and policies to determinedly fight homophobia and transphobia. To contribute to this, it offers its expertise, in particular to national human rights institutions, rights defenders and ministries in charge of security and justice.

The French network of embassies, the third-largest in the world, works to recall France’s consistent positions on this matter, express its concerns when the situation of LGBT+ people worsens, and support countries ready to move towards decriminalization or better respecting the rights of LGBT+ people.

Furthermore, France recognizes persecution for sexual orientation and gender identity as a criterion for asylum.

International initiatives
  • Continue to systematically make representations to countries which undermine the rights of LGBT+ people
  • Launch a campaign at the United Nations for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality
  • Mobilize new resources for NGOs which defend LGBT+ people around the world, such as the Quai d’Orsay fund, the AFD call for projects and L’Initiative by Expertise France
  • Organize inclusive Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly with the opening of a Maison des Fiertés (Pride House)
  • Make the EU the world’s most protective space for LGPT+ people, such as by combating violence and discrimination, providing legal protection for same-sex couples, banning conversion therapies and recognizing same-sex parentage across countries
  • Issue visas tailored to the needs of human rights defenders (including LGBT+ defenders)
  • Increase France’s participation in the Equal Rights Coalition, as well as in pro-LGBT+ coalitions at the United Nations and the Council of Europe
  • Develop the network of LGBT+ champions in all French embassies
  • Ensure that French embassies are safe places for LGBT+ people
  • Organize an annual meeting with pro-LGBT+ NGOs in each French embassy
  • Use cultural diplomacy and formal communication from embassies to increase the profile of LGBT+ issues.

Internal action within the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

  • Offer Ministry staff training/awareness-raising on LGBT+ issues
  • Officially take part in the Pride March in Paris, within the diplomatic procession
  • Provide Ministry officials with a summary document on laws regarding LGBT+ people in all countries, in order to guide them in their professional mobility and inform them of the rights of their partners
  • Publish a booklet entitled J’attends un enfant, covering rights around parenthood, focusing on fatherhood leave, assisted conception and adoption.

An Ambassador for the rights of LGBT+ people

On 26 October 2022, an Ambassador for the rights of LGBT+ people was appointed. This role, assigned to Jean-Marc Berthon, confirms that combating violence and discrimination against LGBT+ people is one of France’s foreign policy priorities. The ambassador is responsible for speaking out on behalf of France in terms of defending the rights of LGBT+ people, particularly in the fight for universal decriminalization. He engages in dialogue with States and regularly meets civil society actors dealing with these issues, who often work under difficult conditions. He passes on France’s messages within the European Union and international organizations, particularly the United Nations.

Jean-Marc Berthon’s X account

[(Coalitions to promote LGBT+ rights

In 2016, the Equal Rights Coalition, which brings together 42 States worldwide, was formed to coordinate international efforts supporting LGBT+ rights. It held its last conference in Berlin on 17 and 18 December 2024 and is currently co-chaired by Spain and Colombia. France plays an active role.

At the United Nations in New York and Geneva, the countries most committed to this matter regularly cooperate to draw up joint positions and advocate together for greater consideration of the protection of LGBT+ people in multilateral forums.

Within the EU, discussions between like-minded States on the rule of law and fundamental rights regularly take place on the topic. In addition, an LGBTIQ sub-group, stemming from the EU High-Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime, was created in 2021 and now meets regularly.

France advocates for the protection of LGBT+ rights within multilateral and European forums

France is fully mobilized within the United Nations in efforts to combat stigmatization and serious violations of human rights that LGBT+ people continue to experience around the world.

In 2008, France and the Netherlands together presented the text of the Declaration on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to the United Nations General Assembly. As of 2023, almost 70 States had signed up.

As a member of the United Nations LGBTI Core Group in New York (which has 42 States) and the group of friends of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Geneva, France regularly endorses the joint statements and contributes to high-level events dedicated to combating violence and discrimination against LGBTI people in multilateral bodies.

In 2011, France contributed to the drafting of the Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. It also supported the historic panel on sexual orientation and gender identity during the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council in 2012.

France was actively involved in the adoption by the HRC of a resolution condemning discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity in 2014.

In 2016, the HRC also adopted a resolution on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This resolution led to the creation, for the first time in this field, of a mandate for an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Following the Orlando attacks on 12 June 2016, the Security Council, then chaired by France, adopted a declaration condemning the attack and its homophobic nature, in the first Security Council declaration mentioning victims’ sexual orientation. On 16 June 2016, at the initiative of the Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, a high-level meeting was held at Stonewall Inn, New York, a very symbolic location for the fight for LGBT+ rights. The meeting was attended by France and 15 other countries, as well as the European Union.

France defends progressive positions and language in all specialized international forums. It ensures that the International Labour Organization and World Health Organization programmes are inclusive, including for LGBT+ people.

In 2024, France supported the adoption of the United Nations Secretariat Strategy on Protection from Violence and Discrimination of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) Persons. The Strategy reaffirms the internal United Nations commitments to creating a safe, enabling, welcoming and supportive environment for LGBT+ people. It also reaffirms external commitments, in line with the United Nations’ respective mandates, international law, norms and standards and other globally agreed commitments including the 2030 Agenda, to prevent, mitigate and address exclusion, violence, stigma and discrimination, and to advance the protection and realization of the human rights, of LGBT+ people, as part of efforts to leave no one behind.

The same year, France supported the first United Nations resolution on the protection of intersex people.

These initiatives are proof of the gradual progress of this issue within the United Nations and among States, as well as the continuous commitment of France and its partners to this issue.

Within the EU, France is committed to fostering implementation of the very first European LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025, published by the European Commission. It advocates for the recognition by all EU Member States of marriage rights for people of the same sex and the lived experiences of rainbow families, for the extending of the list of European criminal offences to include hate speech and hate crimes, including against LGBT+ people, and for the banning of conversion therapies.

In 2023, France took part in negotiating Council Conclusions, a policy document, on the safety of LGBTQI people in the EU. The principles in the Conclusions stem from and seek to implement the Strategy. They were presented by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

France also observes Member States’ compliance with rights of LGBT+ people. In April 2023, it supported the action for failure to fulfil obligations submitted by the European Commission before the Court of Justice of the EU against Hungary following its anti-LGBT+ law adopted in 2021. This was a first, and attests to France’s vigilance regarding the regression of the rights of LGBTQI people in the European Union.

Lastly, France supports the European Commission’s external action to support LGBT+ rights. As part of the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, the Commission decided to allocate €15 million to global action in support of non-discrimination and inclusion.

France supports civil society organizations and LGBT+ rights defenders around the world

France works alongside its international and civil society partners and human rights defenders to promote and defend LGBT+ rights through its official development assistance.

Defending human rights, including fighting to decriminalize homosexuality and support human rights defenders, [2] is a priority of French development policy. [3] Furthermore, France’s development cooperation policy takes a human rights-based approach which guides the action of development partners, basing projects on the principles of legality, universality, non-discrimination and inclusion.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, through its diplomatic network, supports numerous foreign NGO projects that aim to promote and protect LGBT+ rights. To step up this action alongside civil society, a specific Priority Solidarity Fund for LGBT+ civil society organizations was created in 2023. With an initial budget of €2 million, it operates within the framework of the Team France Fund. The AFD’s Civil Society Organization Initiatives Facility, which publishes calls for projects aimed at French and international NGOs, is also open to NGOs working on these issues. In 2024, it dedicated €2.7 million to funding a major project by a consortium of French NGOs.

Many LGBT+ people also benefit from France’s international actions against HIV and AIDS, which affect them particularly. In addition to the programmes of the Global Fund programmes, to which France is the second-largest public donor, they are also supported by L’Initiative, an Expertise France programme, which provides assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS, including LGBT+ people.

Between 2017 and 2022, France contributed €29 million to LGBT+ groups and will spend another €10 million over the next three years.

Europe, committed to LGBT+ equality

On 12 November 2020, the European Union presented its first strategy for LGBTIQ equality in the EU. This strategy includes legislative and non-legislative work at the Council, and the investment of a number of financial resources to ensure LGBTQIA rights are respected. It has four priorities:

  • Fighting discrimination, particularly in the workplace;
  • Ensuring the safety of LGBTIQ people;
  • Protecting rights of rainbow families, with possible measures to support the mutual recognition of same-gender partnership between Member States;
  • Supporting LGBTIQ equality around the world.

The European Commission has published a Progress report on the implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. The report indicates true progress, while highlighting areas where the European institutions and Member States still have room for improvement.

France will support the European Commission that was formed in 2024 in drafting a new LGBTQIIA strategy for the coming years, as well as the rotating presidencies of the Council of the European Union in addressing these issues.

Furthermore, in response to backsliding on LGBTIQ rights in some EU countries, on 11 March 2021 MEPs adopted a resolution declaring the EU an ‘‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’’. More generally, the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup is highly active in promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTIQ people in all European legislative discussions.

Update: January 2025

[1Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

[2The French conception of this approach is formally set out in the strategy.

[3Programming Act of 4 August 2021 on inclusive development and combating global inequalities.