While the majority of French people identify themselves as heterosexual (attracted only to people of the opposite sex), three percent are homosexual (attracted to people of the same sex), four percent are bisexual (attracted to both sexes), and two percent are pansexual (attracted to people of any gender) or asexual (feel little or no sexual attraction). The acronym LGBTQIA+ thus encompasses homosexuals, bisexuals, pansexuals, and asexuals, but also transgender, non-binary, and intersex people, as well as those identifying with the broader term "queer". Despite growing acceptance and integration of non-heterosexual or non-cisgender people, they are still frequently the victims of discrimination and abuse. In particular, people who identify with a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth face widespread misunderstanding.
Transgender and non-binary people
Cisgender people are individuals whose reported gender corresponds to their assigned sex at birth. People with other gender identities represent around three percent of the French population. These are mainly transgender people, whose gender is different from that assigned at birth, and non-binary people, who do not identify exclusively with the female or male gender, or with neither. Transphobia is a central part of the culture wars waged by conservatives in Europe and around the world, and gender identities other than cisgender are still difficult to accept in France. For instance, 27 percent of French people would not react favorably if a close family member declared themselves to be transgender or non-binary, and a further 27 percent would be unsure how to react.In France, birth certificates and identity documents must bear the words "homme" (male) or "femme" (female). This situation is often complicated for non-binary people who identify with neither or both of these options. To remedy this, some countries, such as the U.S., Australia, and Germany, have introduced a third alternative: neutral gender or "X". However, the proportion of French people who would be in favor of introducing such an option in France remains in the minority.
Transgender people often understand from childhood that their gender identity is different from their registered sex, but in France, sex changes on official documents are only possible in adulthood. A request must be made to the court to demonstrate that the sex indicated on civil status documents does not correspond to one's gender identity. While it is no longer necessary to have undergone medical treatment or surgery to have one's gender legally recognized, the process remains long and challenging. In 2019, only 16 percent of transgender people had or were in the process of having their gender officially recognized on their identity papers.
Discrimination and LGBTQIAphobia
Acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality is growing in France. In 1970, two percent of women reported having had sexual intercourse with another woman; by 2019, the figure had risen to nine percent. The number of same-sex couples is also on the rise, particularly among younger people, who seem to be more open about questions of sexual orientation than previous generations. On the other hand, while the majority of French people see homosexuality as a way of living one's sexuality like any other, 15 percent see this sexual orientation as an illness that needs to be treated, or as a sexual perversion that needs to be fought. LGBTQIA+ people remain frequent victims of discrimination and physical or moral abuse.While the number of reports of LGBTIA-phobic assaults collected by the association SOS-Homophobie has fallen in recent years compared to the 2013 peak linked to the legalization of marriage, it has remained relatively stable between 2010 and 2022, and anti-LGBT attacks recorded by the security services have even multiplied since 2016. In fact, the number of assaults recorded by the police rose by almost 24 percent between 2020 and 2022. In addition, part of the population, and in particular right-wing and far-right voters, continue to oppose the extension of rights to queer people. LGBTQIA+ people remain unconvinced by the government's response to their security needs and its effectiveness in combating intolerance and prejudice against them.
The annual "Rainbow map" index, which ranks European countries according to the quality of life offered to LGBTQIA+ communities on the basis of criteria such as equality, non-discrimination, hate crimes and speech, and legal recognition of gender, seems to reflect this situation. In the 2023 version, France achieved a score of 63 percent, dropping three places compared to the previous year. Indeed, while the index acknowledges advances such as the legal ban on conversion therapies in January 2022, or the unprecedented participation of a transgender candidate in the Miss France competition, it also highlights the increase in anti-LGBTQIA hate crimes, the 2021 bioethics law, and in particular the limits placed by laws on authorized healthcare for intersex children (including genital mutilation) without their consent. Equality is thus far from being achieved, and France falls behind other European countries such as Malta, Denmark, and Belgium.
