A few days before the next GayPride (June 29), Ifop published a survey on the French view of homosexuality, same-sex parenting and their degree of adherence to different LGBTPHOBES prejudices and opinions. Conducted with a representative national sample of 3,000 people, this study highlights a growing acceptance of homosexuality and homosexuality in society, but also the persistence of certain heterosexist stereotypes, particularly in the categories of the population most influenced by religion.

THE MAIN LESSONS OF THE SURVEY

Greater social acceptance of homosexuality
A stronger tolerance towards the visibility of homosexuality in the public space
Increasing acceptance of the principle of homosexual parenthood
The persistence of homophobic and transphobic clichés
French people who react more to homophobic remarks

Much progress has been made in accepting homosexuality. In 1975, 42% of French people considered homosexuality a flaw. This figure has drastically decreased to 8% today. However, we find that the transgender reality is much less accepted since 39% of respondents in 2019 believe that people who want to change sex have a psychological problem.

Contrary to popular belief, the survey shows that the acceptance rate changes very little according to age: 73% of people under 35 accept homosexuality; 67% for those 65 and over. Surprisingly, homosexuality is less accepted in the city with 79% of membership in urban Paris while it is 86% in the province and 89% in rural areas.

French people more aware of the progress to be made For 65% of those surveyed this year (compared to 43% in 2004), the recent attacks on homosexuals prove that homophobia is still important. 30% of respondents think that French society is still indifferent or even tense (42%) in the face of homosexual claims for more equality.

Some discomforts remain

The previous survey revealed that LGBT communities avoid certain behaviors for fear of judgment or retaliation: it is still difficult for LGBT people to express their love in public. This second component reveals that there is persistent malaise towards LGBT persons: 41% of respondents are uncomfortable with the idea that children see people of the same sex kissing each other on their mouths, or holding hands in front of them in public (25%). 35% say they feel uncomfortable when people of the same sex kiss each other on the mouth in public. Although one third of people still consider it shocking to see two people of the same sex kissing in a public place, in 1996, this was the case for almost two thirds of French people.

26% are uncomfortable with one of their children coming to a family reunion with a same-sex partner. On the other hand, we note that transgender reality is less accepted than homosexuality. In fact, 11% of respondents say they feel uncomfortable in the presence of opposite-sex homosexuals and 14% of the same sex, compared to 27% in the presence of transgender people.

Bad habits persist

Although the French are more and more aware of LGBTphobias, certain habits persist. Homophobic insults such as "motherfuckers" or "homosexuals" are still very much a part of everyday life as 41% of French people use them, whether in a moment of irritation with people belonging to the homosexual community (4%) or not (37%).

These insults are mainly used by people under 35 (53% against 37% for over 35s) although they are in sharp decline: - 11 points in the under 35 years since 2004 whereas they increase at 35 years old and over (+ 13 points).

The use of pejorative terms against people identified as belonging to the LGBT community is used in both private (26%), school (25%) and professional (22%) circles. They are slightly less involved in sports activities or events (17%). Moreover, only 29% of respondents say that in the situation where one of their friends makes homophobic remarks, they would try to change their friend's mind and stop seeing him if he persists in his opinions.

For LGBTphobes, the figure is 67% of respondents. "Everyone must realize that these insults contribute to the trivialization of LGBTphobic acts," said Jasmin Roy. There is still a long way to go and the Foundation is convinced that it is by developing emotional and relationship skills from an early age through concrete tools that we will move towards greater tolerance and benevolence ".

THE POINT OF VIEW OF FRANÇOIS KRAUS (IFOP)

"While homophobia in the strict sense has regressed, especially since the first legal recognition of conjugality and homosexual parenthood, it is clear that forms of heterosexism remain prevalent in certain segments of the population that adhere to the law. example to injunctions made to LGBT to remain invisible or apart from certain rights (eg parenthood). Heterosexist pockets persist in public opinion, especially among people with a low socio-cultural level, living with little LGBT daily or sensitive to religious rhetoric and sexual morality very rigorous not to be reactionary. Symptomatic of a tendency to tolerance rather than the trivialisation of the place of LGBT people in society,

THE POINT OF VIEW OF JASMIN ROY (JASMIN ROY SOPHIE DESMARAIS FOUNDATION)

"Homosexuality was still considered a psychiatric pathology until 1992 in France. This paradigm shift has contributed to this evolution of acceptance in society , commented Jasmin Roy, president of the Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais Foundation. Today, 85% of respondents in 2019 consider that homosexuality is a way to live out their sexuality when they were only 24% in 1975. The figures are encouraging even if there is still work left. "

THE POINT OF VIEW OF FREDERIC POTIER (DILCRAH)

"The survey results are a real tool for identifying strategies and concrete actions to promote the acceptance of LGBT people in our society," said Frédéric Potier, prefect on public service mission and inter-ministerial delegate in the fight against racism anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred of Dilcrah. 50% of French people say they trust our government to overcome the current shortcomings identified in the survey.

LE REGARD DES FRANÇAIS SUR L’HOMOSEXUALITÉ ET LA PLACE DES LGBT DANS LA SOCIÉTÉ

À quelques jours de la prochaine GayPride (29 juin), l’Ifop publie une enquête sur le regard des Français sur l’homosexualité, l’homoparentalité et leur degré d’adhésion aux différents préjugés et opinions LGBTPHOBES. Réalisée auprès d’un échantillon national représentatif de 3 000 personnes, cette étude met en lumière une acceptation croissante de l’homosexualité et de l’homoparentalité dans la société mais aussi la persistance de certains clichés hétérosexistes, en particulier dans les catégories de la population les plus influencées par la religion.

LES PRINCIPAUX ENSEIGNEMENTS DE L’ENQUETE

1- Une plus grande acceptation sociale de l’homosexualité

2- Une tolérance plus forte à l’égard de la visibilité de l’homosexualité dans l’espace public

3- Une acceptation croissante du principe d’homoparentalité

4- La persistance de clichés homophobes et transphobes

5- Des Français qui réagissent plus face à des propos homophobes

LE POINT DE VUE DE FRANÇOIS KRAUS (IFOP)

« Si l’homophobie au sens strict a fortement régressé, notamment depuis les premiers modes de reconnaissance juridique de la conjugalité et de la parentalité homosexuelle, force est de constater que des formes d’hétérosexisme restent prégnantes dans certains pans de la population qui adhèrent par exemple aux injonctions faites aux LGBT à rester invisibles ou en dehors de certains droits (ex : parentalité). Des poches hétérosexistes persistent donc dans l’opinion, en particulier chez les personnes ayant un faible niveau socio-culturel, côtoyant peu de LGBT au quotidien ou encore sensibles à une rhétorique religieuse et une morale sexuelle très rigoriste pour ne pas réactionnaire. Symptomatique d’une tendance à la tolérance plus qu’à la banalisation de la place des LGBT dans la société, l’acceptation croissante du principe d’homosexualité ne doit donc pas être confondue avec sa normalisation intégrale.

LE POINT DE VUE DE JASMIN ROY (FONDATION JASMIN ROY SOPHIE DESMARAIS)

« L’homosexualité était encore considérée comme une pathologie psychiatrique jusqu’en 1992 en France. Ce changement de paradigme a contribué à cette évolution de l’acceptation dans la société, a commenté Jasmin Roy, président de la Fondation Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais. Aujourd’hui, 85% des répondants en 2019 considèrent que l’homosexualité est une manière comme une autre de vivre sa sexualité alors qu’ils étaient seulement 24% en 1975. Les chiffres sont encourageants même s’il reste du travail. »

LE POINT DE VUE DE FREDERIC POTIER (DILCRAH)

« Les résultats du sondage constituent un réel outil pour identifier des stratégies et des actions concrètes en vue de favoriser l’acceptation des LGBT dans notre société, a déclaré Frédéric Potier, préfet en mission de service public et délégué interministériel à la lutte contre le racisme, l’antisémitisme et la haine anti-LGBT de la Dilcrah. 50% des Français déclarent avoir confiance en notre gouvernement pour pallier aux carences actuelles identifiées dans le sondage ».

Read the full press release in French

See the full presentation in French