A hundred personalities from all walks of life, including the presidential majority, denounce the “homophobic remarks” by Minister Caroline Cayeux in a column published on Saturday July 16 on the website of Sunday newspaper.
“How to accept the remarks made by the minister responsible for local authorities on the eve of the national holiday”wonder the signatories, among whom are, in the political department, the former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, the deputies of the majority Joël Giraud, David Valence, Raphaël Gérard, Quentin Bataillon, or the mayors of Paris Center Ariel Weil ( PS), from 5e arrondissement Florence Berthout (DVD), from 6e arrondissement Jean-Pierre Lecoq (LR) and 9e arrondissement Delphine Bürkli (Horizons), as well as the 1re Deputy Mayor of Marseille Michèle Rubirola (EELV).
Also initialed the text, entitled “To all these people”, the neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik, the secretary general of the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) Laurent Escure, the entrepreneur Mathieu Gallet, the host Alex Goude, the doctor of sciences Aurélie Jean or the psychiatrist Serge Hefez.
Mme Cayeux sparked controversy this week by responding to Public Senate, who questioned him about old statements dating from 2013 “on marriage for all and adoption for same-sex couples, described as reform of whim and design that goes against nature”. The Minister first said: “I obviously stand by my words. But I have always said that the law, if it were passed, I would apply it”. And to add: “I must tell you all the same I have many friends among these people. Frankly, it’s a bad trial that I’m being made and it upset me a lot”.
For Elisabeth Borne, “things are now clear”
Facing the outcry, Mme Cayeux backpedaled Thursday evening in The Parisianrecalling that the remarks, which she now judges “stupid and clumsy”, “go back ten years”. “And if I can’t deny having held them, of course I won’t use them anymore and regret them”she added, presenting her “sincerest apologies”.
“The question is not whether this new minister has, in her entourage, friends among “those people”, like a mask on her prejudices”write the signatories of the forum. “She deliberately chose to maintain homophobic remarks: it is certainly reprehensible. And only a judge should decide that.”they add, while several associations announced on Wednesday that they had filed a complaint in Paris.
“On the other hand, the question is whether the government, in its duty of solidarity, validates the position of one of its members, and whether the majority subscribes to its attitude”underline the signatories, even if certain ministers, like Clément Beaune, openly gay, have publicly distanced themselves from the words of Mme Cayeux.
“It is a question of defending not this or that community, but respect for the principle of equality and legality by a member of the government”they insist, without calling for the resignation of the minister. “His words hurt many of us personally, but above all they undermine our daily efforts to uphold republican principles in our territories”they underline, considering that the « regrets » of Mme Cayeux do not have the “strength of sincerity”.
After the apologies of M.me Cayeux, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne assured Friday that “Things are now clear”. “And Caroline Cayeux, like the rest of the government, is at work and focused on her mission”she said.