Montpellier

Policy

1 – Actions to fight against discrimination

1. Support for anti-discrimination associations

Amount of the support to associations in 2022: 28 300 €. The City provides financial support (grants) and technical support (loan of rooms, equipment, communication relays) to associations involved in the fight against discrimination, including the LGBTQI+ associations mentioned below.

2. From 2017 to 2020: participation in training for social workers (linked with the IRTS)

Participation in the optional deepening class: « Les stéréotypes, c’est pas mon genre », for social work students trained at IRTS, to learn how to deconstruct gender stereotypes in the professional practice of “care”. Among the themes addressed: gender and early childhood, construction of sexual identity, equality and gender relations, and parenting.

3. Since 2018: creation of an action research group to fight against discrimination

The City of Montpellier, in partnership with the University Paul Valéry Montpellier III, and financially supported by the politic dotation of the city, created in 2018 an action research group dedicated to the fight against discrimination.

4. In 2022: creation of a local discrimination observatory

The Observatory set up in Montpellier conducts precise and localized research on the various situations of discrimination, attempting to address all the criteria in thematic and cross-cutting research with a focus on the “Politique de la Ville” districts. This research makes it possible to issue recommendations that enrich public policies and prevention actions, in a shared desire to improve the life paths of people affected by discrimination.

2- Actions to fight against homophobia and transphobia

Every year, the City of Montpellier participates in the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, celebrated on May 17. As the first city to raise the rainbow flag above City Hall, the first community to sign the l’Autre Cercle charter, and a supporter of associations that fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Montpellier, a territory of tolerance, continues to carry the colors of diversity through numerous events.

1. Support to the LGBTQI+ associations

The city provides financial (subsidies) and technical (making facilities available; lending rooms, materials, communication relays) support to associations involved in the fight against LGBTQI+phobia.

Goal

As part of its general competence, the City of Montpellier is committed to fighting discrimination. It does this by providing financial support (subsidies) and by developing active partnerships with associations, as well as with partner institutions (Defender of Rights, Universities, signatories of the City Contract). Awareness-raising activities for municipal staff and the general public are also offered each year. The involvement of the City and the Metropolis of Montpellier is intensified by commitments:

  • The signing by the City of Montpellier of the L’Autre Cercle LGBT Commitment Charter, for the professional inclusion of LGBTQI+ people (2015).
  • The City of Montpellier’s membership in the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR) (2016).
  • The signing by the City of Montpellier of the “Equality against Racism” Charter carried by the Defender of Rights (2016).
  • The signature by the City of Montpellier of the ANVITA Charter (Association Nationale des Villes et des Territoires Accueillants) which, in conjunction with associations, allows for better consideration of migrants, regardless of their sexuality and state of health (2019).

For how long has there been a specific LGBT emancipation policy?

The City of Montpellier has been working since the 70s to promote the rights of LGBTQI+ people. Among the key dates of this action, we can highlight that 2023 marks: the 30th anniversary of the first Montpellier Pride, the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the headquarters of the association Le Refuge in Montpellier, and the 10th anniversary of the first same-sex wedding in France, which were celebrated in Montpellier.

Key focus areas (short term (1 year) and long term (4 years))

In 2023:

  • In the context of the city’s membership to ECCAR: the City of Montpellier organized, together with the Occitanie Region, UNESCO and the City of Montpellier’s Discrimination Observatory, a UNESCO Master Class against racism and discrimination for high school and university students (March 21) and for institutional staff and associative supervisors (March 22). One of the workshops was on: “Being LGBTQI+ today in France (and elsewhere): rights and discrimination”, and was facilitated by the NGO Egides.
  • Candidacy of the City of Montpellier to the Rainbow Cities Network.

In the medium or long term:

  • Candidacy for the organization of the Gay Games in Montpellier.
  • Creation of an archive dedicated to LGBTQI+ in the municipal archives.
  • Creation of a fund dedicated to LGBTQI+ cultures in the media libraries of the Metropolis.
  • Establishment of a coordination between LGBTQI+ associations and the City of Montpellier.
  • Inclusion of the community in the public space (street-art, names of personalities from the LGBTQI+ community soon to be attributed to public spaces and places…).
  • Work on the inclusion of LGBTQI+ seniors in gay-friendly EHPADs.
  • Faced with homophobic, biphobic and transphobic violence, aggression and incivilities that appear in the Montpellier area, development of a specific security and prevention system by increasing the awareness of the municipal police and TAM (local public transport company) controllers to LGBTQI+phobic acts.

Municipal sectors/services involved

Within the City of Montpellier, the Social Cohesion Department of the Solidarity Unit, the Local Security and Crime Prevention Council (CLSPD) of the Security and Public Peace Unit, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Department of the HR Steering and Modernization Department are in charge of deploying public policies in favor of LGBTQI+ people.

The City of Montpellier supports and assists associations working for LGBTQI+ people including: Le Refuge, Fierté Montpellier Pride, Contact, Envie, Aides, Chemin des Cimes, APGL.

Other collaboration partners

The City of Montpellier has created a partnership with the association “FLAG!”, in order to facilitate the reporting of LGBTQI+phobic and serophobic acts through the “FLAG!”.

Which administration section will implement the policy?

It is the Social Cohesion department that deploys the policy in favor of the rights of LGBTQI+ people, in direct link with the Mayor’s Office and the Mayor-President. It is also the CLSPD for the part: LGBTQI+ monitoring unit.