Sarkozy: "Some of my best sports friends wear pink, so there is no homophobia in sport"

We are aghast at this news. LGBT magazine Têtu reports on a story in this week's edition of weekly satirical political newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné. Here's our translation of the story:

On its famous "Page 2" of short insider news, this week's edition of Le Canard enchaîné recounts an interesting anecdote. According to the paper, Chantal Jouanno, Minister of Sport, discussed in the 8 June cabinet meeting the creation of a plan to fight against discrimination in sport, including in particular the fight against homophobia, and the creation of a committee for action against discrimination in sport. Nicolas Sarkozy then commented: "I am very fond of sport and I think there is much less discrimination in sport than elsewhere. Sport is an example of integration and the fight against discrimination."

The Canard says that Jouanno responded timidly: "But there are problems of homophobia." A curt response from the head of state: "I don't think so. There is in this area the example of the Stade Français rugby team and my friend Max Guazzini, who chose pink jerseys for his players. I wouldn't want it thought that there are discrimination or homophobia in sport."

The Canard doesn't relate the rest of the meeting, nor the fate of the committee. But if Nicolas Sarkozy doesn't believe there is homophobia in sport, that could mean a brutal stop to the fight against homophobia in this area. In her interview with TÊTU, Chantal Jouanno hinted that sports federations that didn't sign the charter against homophobia in sport would not receive financial support from the national government. Will this hint now become an empty threat?