In an interview with Forbes magazine, Sarah El Haïry, the Secretary of State for Youth and Universal National Service, revealed that she is homosexual, making her the first French woman and serving minister to do so. This news is likely to generate discussion within the political sphere. El Haïry shared that she tries not to read social media due to their unreliability, but when her family or partner is affected, she feels pain. El Haïry’s political career began in 2017 when she became a deputy for the fifth constituency of Loire-Atlantique. She subsequently became spokesperson for the Democratic Movement, municipal councilor of Nantes, community councilor of Nantes Métropole, and secretary of state attached to the Ministry of National Education in 2020. El Haïry is not the first political figure to reveal their homosexuality, as several others, such as Clément Beaune and Olivier Dussopt, have already done so. This trend suggests that mentalities are evolving toward a society with fewer prejudices.
During an interview granted this Friday, the Secretary of State for Youth Sarah El Haïry revealed her homosexuality. She becomes the first French woman and serving minister in history to come out.
Information that is likely to make people talk within the political class. Secretary of State for Youth and Universal National Service Sarah El Haïry gave an interview for Forbes magazine, where she discreetly asserts that she is homosexual.
Responding to a question related to her reputation on social media, the Secretary of State said that she “tries not to read because I know that Twitter is not real life. But when my family or my partner are affected, yes, it pains me. But I made this choice of public action.
She thus becomes the first French politician, in ministerial office, to come out.
A rapid political rise
Appointed Secretary of State for Youth and Universal National Service by Elisabeth Borne last July, Sarah El Haïry has a rich political career.
Taking her first steps in the National Assembly in 2017, becoming a deputy for the fifth constituency of Loire-Atlantique, the 34-year-old young woman rose through the ranks. She subsequently became spokesperson for the Democratic Movement, municipal councilor of Nantes, community councilor of Nantes Métropole, and secretary of state attached to the Ministry of National Education, in 2020, by appointment of the former Premier Minister Jean Castex.
Other politicians had revealed their homosexuality
Sarah El Haïry is not, however, the first political figure to come out since, already, the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune had already revealed his homosexuality in 2020. The same for Olivier Dussopt, Gabriel Attal, Roger Karoutchi, or even Frédéric Mitterand .
In recent years, several political figures have decided to take the plunge and let the French people know. Revealing one’s homosexuality when one is a public figure, which is more political, remains a courageous exercise. However, this shows that mentalities are changing and evolving towards a society where prejudices are less and less present.
Sarah El Haïry’s decision to come out as homosexual is a significant moment in French political history. Not only is she the first serving minister to do so, but her courage and honesty may inspire others to follow in her footsteps. While homosexuality is still stigmatized in some circles, the fact that several political figures have come out in recent years shows that attitudes are changing. As a society, we are slowly but surely becoming more accepting and inclusive, and Sarah El Haïry’s announcement is a small but important step in this direction.