Friends of LGBT sport in new French cabinet

Jean-Marc Ayrault

As expected, Valérie Fourneyron, mayor of Rouen, a sister city of Cleveland, host of Gay Games 9, has been named minister for sport in the new government of Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault. Just last week, Mme Fourneyron invited FGG member organization FSGL to represent the field of sport at an event for the International Day Against Homophobia held in Rouen. Mme Fourneyron arrives with a great deal of experience in sport, as a physician specialized in sports medicine who has worked for several French sports federations.

Another friendly face is that of Dominique Bertinotti, mayor of the 4th Arrondissement of Paris. If you've attended the TIP Paris International Tournament or the FSGL Forum, you've been a guest of Mme Bertinotti, who has welcomed the FSGL to use the district's facilities, whether the town hall and its plaza, or the Espace des Blancs Manteaux. Mme Bertinotti will be leaving the town hall to take on the role of junior minister in charge of family policy.

As for the new Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault has a well-deserved reputation as an ally for LGBT people, in his former roles of mayor of Nantes and as an MP.

On the whole, a more promising state of affairs for LGBT people in France, and in particular for LGBT sport.