Leaders of France’s LGBTQI+ community have defended the Paris Olympics opening ceremony from critics who criticized its mocking “Last Supper” scene and the group of drag queens that took center stage, lamenting that their community was largely ignored and not accepted.
Inter LGBT President James Lepellier argued that France still needs to make great strides in inclusiveness and said the spotlight on French society was important to elevate it to the international consciousness. The Associated Press Reports.
“We know that the LGBTQ community in France is far from what was shown at the ceremony. Society still has a long way to go when it comes to transgender people. It’s terrible that you have to go to court to legally change your identity,” Lepellier said, as others pushed back against what they saw.
Former minister says France committed national ‘suicide’ at Olympics opening ceremonyhttps://t.co/VAurJ1HSEl
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 27, 2024
He also argued that the gay community is less visible in other official ceremonies and “finds it hard to be heard”.
“If you watched the opening ceremony last night you would think that this was how it should be, but it wasn’t. France was trying to show how it should be, not how it is,” he said.
As Breitbart News reported, there was much criticism of the Olympic opening ceremony, which was hailed as the “gayest ever” after Paris Olympic officials unveiled an LGBTQI+ parody of “The Last Supper” and a fashion show featuring gender-bending fashion and transgender models.
It’s vile. https://t.co/KYkFH7HEmH
—Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 27, 2024
Others said scenes featuring strongly suggestive bisexual threesomes and suggestive dancing by bearded drag queens in revealing outfits were inappropriate for an event that traditionally celebrates sports and those who participate in them.
Some Catholic groups and French bishops condemned the parade, choreographed by director Thomas Joly, calling it a “scene of mockery and ridicule for Christianity.”
Jolie later tried to deflect attention from the “Last Supper” reference, saying it wasn’t her intention.
Le Philippe, the recent winner of Drag Race France, expressed “surprise” and “pride” at the scale and representativeness of the ceremony, and responded to criticism of the scene by dismissing critics.
“It feels like the words of someone who wasn’t on the guest list. We could have all had a laugh together. It makes me sad, to be honest.”
