SPEECH ON THE 40 YEARS OF THE LAW OF AUGUST 4,1982 ENDING HOMO-REPRESSION

USPA NEWS - French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne went to the LGBT+ reception center in Orleans To mark the 40th anniversary of this law of August 4, 1982, making possible to repeal any fellony, crime related to homosexuality. She was able to talk with members of the GAGL45 association. On this occasion, the Prime Minister recalled that the French State had, before 1982, passed discriminatory laws against homosexuals, and made announcements to fight against LGBT+ discrimination, in France and internationally, on this anniversary. She unveiled some pledges such as the creation of a 3 million euro fund to finance new LGBT+ centers and the future appointment of an 'ambassador for LGBT+ rights "will coordinate the action of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for the protection against discrimination and the promotion of LGBT + rights and will carry the voice of France", detailed Ms. Borne. This will include defending "the universal decriminalization of homosexuality and transidentity".

French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne went to the LGBT+ reception center in Orleans To mark the 40th anniversary of this law of August 4, 1982, making possible to repeal any fellony, crime related to homosexuality. She was able to talk with members of the GAGL45 association. On this occasion, the Prime Minister recalled that the French State had, before 1982, passed discriminatory laws against homosexuals, and made announcements to fight against LGBT+ discrimination, in France and internationally, on this anniversary. She unveiled some pledges such as the creation of a 3 million euro fund to finance new LGBT+ centers and the future appointment of an 'ambassador for LGBT+ rights "will coordinate the action of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for the protection against discrimination and the promotion of LGBT + rights and will carry the voice of France", detailed Ms. Borne. This will include defending "the universal decriminalization of homosexuality and transidentity". Elisabeth Borne also greeted all those who have suffered the direct and indirect consequences of these texts. She wanted to pay tribute to those who made it possible to repeal them: François Mitterrand (Former President of the Republic), Pierre Mauroy (Formr Prime Minister), Robert Badinter (FormerMinister fo Justice) and Gisèle Halimi (rapporteur of the law August 4, 1982). In addition, the Prime Minister announced new measures to strengthen support and access to the rights of LGBT+ people. Thus, from 2023, a fund endowed with 3 million euros will be created to allow the opening of 10 new LGBT+ centers in France. The objective is to reach at least two LGBT+ centers in each region of France and at least one center in each overseas region. This fund will also strengthen the budget of the 35 existing LGBT+ centres. In 2021, these centers supported nearly 6,000 people throughout France. The amnesty law of August 4, 1982 made it possible to repeal any criminal nature of homosexuality. Indeed, between 1942 and 1982, France took several legislative measures targeting LGBT+ people and thus establishing offenses specific to homosexual relations by considering them as “acts against nature”. The law of August 4, 1982 stopped all prosecution or enforcement proceedings that were in progress and made it possible to erase any mention in the criminal record.

In accordance with the commitment made by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister confirmed that an ambassador for LGBT+ rights would be appointed by the end of the year. The latter will in particular be responsible for coordinating the action of French diplomacy for the protection against discrimination and the promotion of LGBT+ rights in the world in close collaboration with the ambassador for human rights.

The Prime Minister also recalled all the actions deployed over the past 5 years, as part of the national action plan for equal rights against LGBT+ hatred and discrimination, in particular:
- The opening of PMA for all women;
- The removal of references to sexual orientation when donating blood;
- The opening to the prescription by general practitioners of PrEp (pre-exposure prophylaxis to HIV);
- The prohibition of conversion therapies;
- Support for LGBT+ associations;
- The launch of a plan to combat LGBT+ hatred and discrimination.
- A new three-year plan, co-constructed with associations, will be launched in 2023 to strengthen the fight against anti-LGBT+ discrimination. Source: Matignon, french PM office