Following the Cannes Film Festival’s decision to award the Best Actress prize to the ensemble cast of French director Jacques Audiard’s film, which includes transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón, far-right politician Marion Maréchal voiced her disapproval. As the head of the Reconquête! party list for the European elections, Maréchal took to social media to express her views, stating: “So it’s a man who is receiving the prize for… female interpretation at Cannes. Progress for the left is the erasure of women and mothers.” In response to Maréchal’s remarks, six LGBTQ+ associations, including Mousse, Stop Homophobie, Familles LGBT, Adheos, Quazar, and Fédération LBGTI +, have filed a complaint against her for “transphobic insults.” According to Etienne Deshoulières, the lawyer representing the associations, Maréchal’s comments “deny the very existence of transgender people, as well as the violence and discrimination they suffer on a daily basis.” The complaint emphasizes the alarming prevalence of discrimination and violence faced by transgender individuals in France. Statistics indicate that approximately 85% of transgender people in the country have experienced some form of discrimination, hate speech, or physical or verbal violence. Furthermore, data from the Ministry of the Interior’s statistics department reveals a significant increase in crimes and offenses committed against LGBTQ+ people in recent years, with a 19% jump recorded between 2022 and 2023. At the Cannes Film Festival, Spanish-born Karla Sofía Gascón shared the Best Actress award with American actresses Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, and Mexican actress Adriana Paz. The jury’s decision to award the ensemble cast was explained as a reflection of the film’s central theme of celebrating sisterhood. Gascón, who transitioned at the age of 46, is the first transgender woman to receive this prestigious honor at Cannes. In her role as Manitas and Emilia, a ruthless Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender transition, Gascón delivered a powerful and nuanced performance. Critics praised her ability to portray the toxic masculinity of Manitas and the vulnerability and strength of Emilia. Anticipating potential criticism, Gascón dedicated her prize to “all transgender people who suffer.” She acknowledged that there would be negative reactions, but expressed a message of hope and the belief that everyone has the opportunity to change for the better. Gascón concluded her speech with a defiant message to her detractors, challenging them to “see if you bastards change.
LGBTQ+ Groups File Complaint Against Far-Right Politician for Transphobic Comments
